FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Overseas Territories (Statistical Information)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 175W, on overseas territories, to what extent the overseas territories differ in their system for the collection and publication of statistics; and which publish details within these statistics that constitute national income accounts.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 22 July 2002
	There is no common method used throughout the UK Overseas Territories for the collection and publication of statistical information. Of the economically significant Overseas Territories, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, St. Helena and Turks and Caicos Islands regularly produce and publish details within these statistics that constitute National Income Accounts. Gibraltar has recently published a compendium of statistics after a gap of several years.

Sheikh Salah Shahada

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the death of Sheikh Salah Shahada and others on 22 July.

Mike O'Brien: I spoke to the Israeli Ambassador on 23 July to express the concern of the Government and the House about the Israeli attack in Gaza and the deaths of innocent civilians. I said it was unacceptable and counterproductive, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had earlier told the House. HM Ambassador in Tel Aviv conveyed the same views to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the revised certificate he signed last December with respect to Section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 has been used by the Intelligence Service and GCHQ in relation to (a) the right of access to personal data and (b) the disclosure of personal data to the Service or GCHQ; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The certificates I signed pursuant to section 28 (2) of the Data Protection Act 1998 relating to SIS and GCHQ provide evidence that the exemption from those provisions of the Act that are specified in the certificate are required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The certificates identify the personal data to which they apply by means of general descriptions and are expressed to have prospective effect, in accordance with section 28 (3). The certificates are used in the context of any legal challenge to the application of the section 28 exemption, such as appeals brought before the Information Tribunal under section 28 (4) or 28 (6). There have been no appeals against the certificate in respect of SIS and there have been two against the certificate in respect of GCHQ, which are still extant.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many subject access requests have been received by the Intelligence Service and GCHQ since the right of access afforded by the Data Protection Act 1998 came into effect; how many of these requests were from data subjects who were not employed or contracted to the Service; and whether any request for access has resulted in personal data being obtained by data subjects.

Jack Straw: The Secret Intelligence Service has received 80 requests for subject access since the Data Protection Act 1998 came into force. Of those, 37 were from individuals not employed by or under contract to the Service. GCHQ has received 25 requests from individuals not employed by or under contract to GCHQ, of which 2 were from former employees. Personal data has been provided by both agencies to data subjects in both categories in response to requests in accordance with Section 7 of the Act.

Chagos Islands

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ilois people had UK passports issued to them under the terms of the Immigration and Nationality Act 1971; and how many were issued in (a) Mauritius, (b) the Seychelles, (c) London and (d) other places.

Mike O'Brien: The current legislation under which passports are issued is the British Nationality Act 1981, as amended by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002.
	The number of British passports issued to Chagossians in Mauritius and the Seychelles is 98 and 63 respectively. An additional 80 passports have been issued in Pretoria. Details of ethnic origin would not be recorded for British passports issued elsewhere and therefore numbers are unavailable.

Chagos Islands

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being considered by BIOT officials for the Ilois people to visit the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: A planned trip in October 02 to enable a group of Chagossians to visit the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago could not go ahead due to the withdrawal of the vessel by the shipping company. We are ready to consider reinstating the voyage next year once the cyclone season (Nov–April) is over.

Chagos Islands

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what applications he has received from the USA to construct new aircraft hangars on Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The issue of possible upgrades to facilities at Diego Garcia has been discussed at annual talks between the UK and US governments. The details of these governmental talks are confidential and exempt under section 1a of The Code of practice on Access to Government Information, ''Information whose disclosure would harm national security or defence''.

Chagos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on the future status of the British Indian Ocean Territory;
	(2)  what options are being considered by the Government after the expiration of the agreement granting the United States joint military use of Diego Garcia.

Mike O'Brien: The British Government has a treaty commitment to allow the US to use BIOT until at least 2016, and then for a further 20 years unless prior notice is given. We have told the Government of Mauritius that the Chagos Islands will be ceded to Mauritius when they are no longer required for defence purposes, subject to the requirements of international law.

Chagos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the claims of Mauritius and the Seychelles to the Chagos Archipelago of British Indian Ocean Territory.

Mike O'Brien: The British Government has sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. Mauritius is the only other state to have a claim to sovereignty. The British Government has told the Government of Mauritius that the Chagos Islands will be ceded to Mauritius when they are longer required for defence purposes, subject to the requirements of international law. Seychelles makes no claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held at the UN concerning a referendum of Saharwi people on the future of the Western Sahara.

Mike O'Brien: The future of Western Sahara has been discussed at the UN recently in both the Security Council and the General Assembly.
	On 30 July 2002 the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1429. This extended the mandate of the UN's peacekeeping force in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2003. It underlined the validity of the Settlement Plan, which provided for a referendum on the future of Western Sahara, while noting the differences between the parties in its implementation. It supported the efforts of the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to find a political solution to the dispute. The Council expressed its readiness to consider any approach that provided for self determination and urged the parties to cooperate fully with them.
	The Fourth Committee of the General Assembly recently debated the question of Western Sahara and agreed a resolution by Consensus debated on 4 October 2002. That resolution noted the Security Council's recent resolutions, including 1429. It urged the parties to continue their cooperation with the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable political solution.

Lockerbie

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 960, if he will place in the Library details of his information about the similar amount to the $11 million paid on or about 23 December 1988 paid 18 months before.

Mike O'Brien: I can add nothing to that which I gave my hon. Friend on 23 July 2002. It is a longstanding Government policy not to comment upon intelligence matters. As I said to my hon. Friend in the House on 23 July 2002, I am informed that after the bombing of Pan Am 103, all reports of PFLP-GC funding that emerged were investigated and none was found to have any connection to the Lockerbie attack.

EU General Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held on 23 July; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the UK at the July Council. The Council adopted the ''A'' points listed in document 12354/1/02 PTS A 44 and noted the Resolutions, Decisions and Opinions of the European Parliament listed in document 10110/02.
	Presidency Priorities
	The Presidency presented its work programme, with emphasis on completing enlargement negotiations with up to 10 countries by Copenhagen. Greece, which will preside over Council discussions with defence implications, briefed on ESDP priorities, particularly progress towards the Headline Goal.
	Enlargement
	The Presidency presented its programme, underlining its commitment to respect the targets set by the European Council. This involves aiming to resolve all remaining non-budgetary aspects by September, with the objective of the Brussels European Council naming the countries that could conclude negotiations by the end of 2002 and taking decisions which will enable the EU to inform the candidates early in November about the financial aspects of the package. The UK strongly supports this approach.
	Seville European Council: Follow-up
	The Council adopted revised rules of procedure, incorporating the changes agreed at Seville and setting out the role and future areas of activity of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The UK welcomes the reforms agreed at Seville. The Commission noted its intention to complete by September, as requested at Seville, a study on options for resolution of the transit issue affecting Kaliningrad.
	Work in other Council Formations
	The Presidency briefed, in particular noting the first discussion in the 15 July Agriculture Council of the mid-term review of the CAP, the debate in the 12 July ECOFIN on negotiations with Switzerland on taxation of savings and in the 19 July ECOFIN on the draft 2003 budget.
	Zimbabwe
	The Council confirmed that Zimbabwe was continuing to fail to respect its obligations in democracy, human rights and rule of law. The Council, with strong UK support, decided to extend the list of those in the ruling party and government affected by the EU measures set out in the 18 February Common Position. This will include all remaining Cabinet Ministers, Politburo Secretaries, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Secretaries of the Politburo and the wife of President Mugabe. The Council condemned the Mugabe government's land reforms as a major cause of the humanitarian crisis and urged Zimbabwe to implement the process agreed at Abuja in September 2001 and to review its land reform as proposed by UNDP in early 2002. The EU will continue to supply humanitarian aid to the people of Zimbabwe.
	Southern Africa
	The Council discussed the humanitarian crisis in the region, noting the EU's contribution of Euro130 million in food and humanitarian aid. It called on the governments in the region to work with the international community to address the underlying causes of the crisis.
	Conflict Prevention
	The CFSP High Representative and Commissioner Patten briefed on EU priorities in Conflict Prevention. The Council adopted Conclusions welcoming this work, and tasking the Political and Security Committee to keep it under review.
	Middle East
	Council Conclusions welcomed the outcome of the EU/US/UN/Russia (''Quartet'') meeting on 16 July and stressed the need for parallel work on economic, political and security issues. The Council underlined the need for a roadmap towards the goal, within 3 years, of a final settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. The Council endorsed the appeal by the Quartet for Israel to lift closures, withdraw their forces to positions held before 28 September 2000, resume transfer of revenues due to the Palestinian Authority and to stop settlement activity. The Council condemned the recent terrorist acts against Israeli civilians. The Council urged Israel to refrain from unjustified deportations.
	Western Balkans
	Conclusions called for protection of the rights of refugees and internally displaced across the region, for enhanced co-operation between states, noted progress in the FRY, including the recent understanding between the FRY and UNMIK in Kosovo, and noted forthcoming elections in Macdeonia and Bosnia.
	Afghanistan
	Conclusions welcomed the outcome of the Loya Jirga and the new transitional government, and welcomed Turkey's assumption of command of the international force (ISAF). The Council noted the recent appointment of Fransesc Vendrell as EU Special Representative.
	India/Pakistan
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary briefed colleagues on his recent trip to India and Pakistan. Ministers underlined the importance that the elections in Pakistan and in Jammu and Kashmir to be held later in the year be free and fair. They invited SG/HR Solana to make this clear during his forthcoming visit to the region.
	World Summit on Sustainable Development
	The Presidency briefed on preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to take place in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. The Council adopted Conclusions on the key messages for an EU Communication strategy for Johannesburg and on EU initiatives based on the Conclusions of the Seville European Council.

Madagascar

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Madagascar; and what recent action has been undertaken by representatives of Her Majesty's Government to protect free elections and the furtherance of democracy and defence of democratic institutions in Madagascar.

Denis MacShane: On 24 September, Marc Ravalomanana, the President of Madagascar, announced that he would be dissolving the National Assembly and holding legislative elections before the end of the year. He sought international assistance to ensure that the elections would be held in a free and transparent manner.
	UK election observers will form part of a 62 strong EU Election Observer team that will monitor the legislative elections. A contingent of 14 observers will arrive four weeks in advance of the elections to monitor the campaign, the investitures and official registration of candidates. The remainder of the team will arrive a week before the election date.
	Our Embassy, along with EU colleagues, the US and major donors in Madagascar, will continue to work constructively with the Government of Madagascar to promote democratic governance and transparency.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 9 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. E. Stephen.

Denis MacShane: A reply was sent on 19 September. I apologise for the delay.

MOX Fuel

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library details of the representations made to the United Kingdom from en route countries in respect of the return shipment of rejected MOX fuel from Japan to Sellafield.

Denis MacShane: The New Zealand High Commissioner called on the FCO on 12 July to make a formal representation regarding the return shipment of MOX fuel from Japan to Sellafield. This was an oral rather than written representation. There have been no other representations from en route countries in respect of this shipment.

Nigeria

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria about the decision under Sharia law to stone to death Amina Lawal.

Denis MacShane: During her recent visit to Nigeria my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, the Baroness Amos, raised with President Obasanjo HMG's concerns about the harsh sentences imposed under the Sharia penal codes. She emphasised the strength of feeling against them in the UK and reiterated HMG's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
	The British High Commission in Abuja, together with EU partners, follows all such cases closely and keeps in close contact with local human rights organisations. The High Commission regularly raises our concerns about the sentences with the appropriate authorities.
	The Federal Government has made clear its opposition to the extreme Sharia penalties. It has declared them discriminatory and unconstitutional. Exercise of the Sharia penal code is, however, entirely under the control of the relevant States. The Federal justice system only comes into play if the defendant appeals to the Federal Appeal Courts.

Gibraltar

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the dates were of the 16 ministerial level meetings held under the Brussels Process between November 1984 and February 1999.

Peter Hain: Between November 1984 and February 1999, ministerial level meetings took place on: 26–27 November 1984; 5–6 February and 6 December 1985; 13–14 January, 27–28 November and 2 December 1987; 10 June 1988; 6–7 February 1989; 26 February 1990; 12 February 1991; 4 May 1992; 1 March 1993; 19–20 December 1994; 19 June 1995; and 22 January and 10 December 1997.
	Since the relaunch of the Brussels Process in July 2001, three Brussels Process ministerial meetings have been held: on 26 July and 20 November 2001 and on 4 February 2002.

Mongolia

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Mongolia over the case of Ms B. Khanddolgar, Editor-in-Chief of the UG newspaper, recently imprisoned for alleged slander; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The editor of the Mongolian ''Ug'' newspaper was sentenced to one year's imprisonment after publishing a story claiming that a private citizen had contracted AIDS following alleged affairs with Russian border guards. The allegations proved false. ''Ug'' issued an apology, but the citizen had already been killed by her partner. This was the fourth time that ''Ug'' had been taken to court facing similar charges.
	In discussion with ministers, editors and journalists in Mongolia last month I made clear the importance the government attaches to freedom of expression and for the need to check facts carefully and avoid publishing allegations made for sensationalist or sectarian purposes.

Export Licences

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Strategic Export Controls report 2001.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Mr. Jeff Ennis) on 19 July 2002, Official Report, column 611W.
	The 2001 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls was published on 19 July. The annual reports were an innovation of this Government and have opened our policy to unprecedented public scrutiny. We maintain one of the most effective and transparent export licensing system in the World.

Export Licences

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the applications for the export of military equipment to (a) the United States and (b) Israel which have been turned down since May 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	Details of all relevant applications for the export of items on the Military List, where the end users were in the United States of America and Israel, which were refused between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 2001, are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House.
	Between 1 January 2002 and 15 July 2002, 42 Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications and 1 Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) application were refused in full, for items on the Military List, where the end users were in Israel. During the same period 5 SIEL applications and no OIEL applications were refused in full, for items on the Military List, to end users in the United States of America.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps (a) have been taken since 1991–92 and (b) are being taken to ensure the compliance of Iraq with Paragraph 30 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: A Tripartite Commission was set up under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish the whereabouts of Kuwaiti and other nationals still missing since the occupation of Kuwait. So far, the Iraqis have provided information sufficient to close only three files. 605 Kuwaiti and other nationals are still unaccounted for. Since January 1999 Iraq has refused to attend Tripartite Commission meetings, and has thereby effectively obstructed progress. The UK, along with other members of the Tripartite Commission, continue to meet regularly. Despite our and others' efforts to convince Iraq of the humanitarian nature of this issue, Iraq still refuses to co-operate with the process.

Beryllium

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the decision to license the export of beryllium to (a) India and (b) Iran in 2001.

Mike O'Brien: Views expressed by any individual department involved in the licensing process fall under the description of ''internal discussion and advice'' the disclosure of which would in this case harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. The information is therefore being withheld on the basis of Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Sri Lanka

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what refreshment provisions are available to members of the public at the British Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Mike O'Brien: All members of the public who are waiting in the visa waiting room in our High Commission in Colombo have access to a chilled water dispenser. The visa and consular section in the British High Commission has just been awarded its second Charter Mark for excellence in customer services. The Charter Mark was obtained in 1998 and the award retained on re-inspection earlier this year.

Afghanistan

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Afghanistan Government's strategy for its fight against drugs; and what the UK's role was in the development of this strategy.

Denis MacShane: The Afghan Transitional Administration has made clear its determination to break Afghanistan's social and economic dependence on drugs. On 4 September President Karzai reiterated in a radio broadcast to the Afghan people his personal commitment to the implementation of the ban on drug cultivation, processing and trafficking introduced in January. The Afghan government has already carried out an eradication programme.
	The UK is co-ordinating international anti-narcotics assistance to Afghanistan. In consultation with the Afghan Government, other donors and international (especially UN) agencies, the UK has developed a strategy for the long term elimination of drugs from Afghanistan. It identifies four key areas where the international community should focus its support: providing alternative livelihoods for opium poppy farmers; improving Afghan drug law enforcement capacity; building up the capacity of Afghan drug control institutions; and reducing drug demand in Afghanistan.

East Timor

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian authorities over the conduct of General Wiranto during the East Timorese ballot in 1999.

Mike O'Brien: The UK has not raised with the Indonesian authorities the specific case of General Wiranto. The EU has however urged the Indonesian government to extend the jurisdiction of their Ad Hoc Tribunal to cover all human rights violations perpetrated in East Timor before, during and after the ballot in 1999.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Saville Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to the Saville Tribunal was of the temporary relocation of proceedings in London.

Des Browne: The estimated cost of the temporary relocation to London of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry is #15 million.

Terrorist-related Activity

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Irish Republicans who have been charged with terrorist-related activity since 1972 have been members of Sinn Fein.

Jane Kennedy: Statistics are not recorded on the political party affiliation of persons charged with terrorist related offences.

Police Service

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recommendations were made by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary following completion of his review into the performance of the PSNI Special Branch.

Jane Kennedy: Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary has not yet completed his review of the Special Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He is scheduled to make a presentation of his findings to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 6th November.

Electoral Identity Card

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional financial and staff resources will be put in place to ensure the provision of the statutory electoral identity card prior to the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 1 May 2003.

Des Browne: #750,000 has already been allocated to provide for the electoral identity card and a member of staff has been seconded from the Northern Ireland Office to act as a project manager in implementing all the requirements of the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act.
	The arrangements for the production of the card are the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer. An advert inviting tenders from experienced and competent service providers for the provision of the card was entered in the Official Journal of the European Community (in line with Government procurement guidelines) on 9 September. Tenders are returnable by 4 November.
	The Government is committed to providing those people who require one with an electoral identity card in time for the Assembly election on 1 May 2003. In order to achieve this target the Chief Electoral Officer's staffing and resource requirements will be kept under review.

Criminal Justice Website

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the objectives are of the Criminal Justice Web Site; what steps he has taken to publicise its launch; how many media outlets reported the event; and how many hits were made in the first month.

Des Browne: The objectives of the Criminal Justice System Northern Ireland website are:
	To provide a ''one-stop shop'' for information on all criminal justice matters.
	To increase public awareness by providing access to all the criminal justice agencies on one site.
	To provide a resource for the public and criminal justice practitioners in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.
	Each criminal justice agency is responsible for promoting the website within its own organisation and amongst its contacts and partners. In addition, the Northern Ireland Office issued a press release to all the main local media outlets on 2 August 2002.
	One media outlet reported the event.
	The site received 21,856 hits in the first month, August.

DNA Analysis

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) instructions were drawn up for and (b) safeguards were used by PSNI officers in the Newtownabbey area to protect against right to privacy violations in the use of DNA analysis to re-examine forensic evidence collected in unresolved murder investigations; what the results were of these examinations; and what his assessment is of this experiment.

Jane Kennedy: The Police in Newtownabbey are conducting a self-inspection of unresolved murders applying forensic technology, including DNA, as appropriate. Any DNA results obtained will be examined against the DNA database. The management of the DNA database is governed by legislation, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
	The investigations are ongoing so it is not possible to provide an assessment at this time.

DEFENCE

Secondments

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff were employed by his Department on secondment from the private sector in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 19.

Secondments

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Lewis Moonie: No staff have been seconded between the Ministry of Defence and any of these companies during the period from 1999 to the present.

Private Military Companies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what deployments include the use of private military companies' services (a) in Britain and (b) abroad; what the additional cost is of using mercenary troops rather than British troops; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Green Paper entitled Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation published on 12 February 2002, highlights the problem of defining a private military company. It notes that their services may include provision of forces for combat, but much more usually, services such as advice, training, logistic support, supply of personnel for monitoring roles, and de-mining operations. In practice, a wide spectrum of people and companies may be involved in the supply of military and security services.
	The Ministry of Defence does not employ commercial contractors to provide forces for combat or armed guards. The MOD does, however, utilise the services of commercial contractors where appropriate and cost effective in a number of areas on deployments both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
	Contracted services are primarily in the areas of logistic support services, e.g. provision of accommodation, catering and maintenance. We also employ local host nation support (e.g. for food supplies and locally employed cleaning and interpreters). Similarly commercial contractors may also be employed to provide advice, support, training and maintenance on equipment supplied to the forces.
	Such services are provided on the majority of UK deployments in some form, and are contracted separately by individual commands. This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Private Military Companies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to use private military companies' services; in which sectors of the armed forces these will be used; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Government has no plans to engage the services of commercial contractors to provide forces for combat, but will continue to use commercial contractors to provide a range of services, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, wherever it is appropriate and cost effective to do so.

Private Military Companies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private military companies he estimates exist in the UK; and how many UK nationals he estimates are employed by these companies.

Adam Ingram: The Green Paper entitled Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation published on 12 February 2002, highlights the problem of defining a private military company. In practice, a wide spectrum of people and companies may be involved in the supply of military and security services.
	The Paper notes that services of private military companies may include provision of forces for combat, but much more usually, services such as advice, training, logistic support, supply of personnel for monitoring roles, and de-mining operations.
	Given this wide range of activities combined with the definitional problems, there are numerous sectors of industry that could potentially provide such services. It is therefore not possible to make such an estimate.

Medical Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF budgets were for medical provisions in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 22 May 2002
	The costs of the Defence Medical Services (DMS) in the years for which figures are available are shown in the table below. Information for the years 1992–1993 to 1997–1998 is reproduced from the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) Seventh report ''The Strategic Defence Review: Defence Medical Services'' published on 27 October 1999. The final outturn for 1998–1999 shown in the table was the same as the estimated figure contained in the HCDC Report. For the years 1999–2000 onwards, we have obtained figures from Surgeon General's Department (SGD) (covering SGD and the four medical agencies), single Service Medical Directorates General, HQ British Forces Germany, the Institute of Naval Medicine and the Centre for Aviation Medicine. The budgets for primary care have been disaggregated down to unit level and these figures could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost. Some historical figures cannot be provided as contemporary records are no longer available.
	
		Royal Navy, Army and RAF expenditure on medical provision in financial years 1992–1993 to 2001–2002
		
			  1992–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000 2000–2001 2001–2002 
		
		
			 #M COST OF DMS N/A N/A 330.6 333.0 257.7 273.5 291.5 320.16 332.88 348.89 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure for 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 cannot be provided since figures ceased to be published in the Statement on the Defence Estimates after 1991 when budgets were disaggregated and contemporary records are no longer available.
	2. Figures for 1994–1995 and 1995–1996 are the cost of the DMS estimated by Defence Cost Study 15(DCS15). The figures contained in the DCS15 report included primary care costs, estimated at #83.5 million for 1994–1995 and #81.1 million for 1995–1996. These have been removed here to allow accurate comparison with the figures for the subsequent years.
	3. Figures for 1996–1997 to 2001–2002 comprise the costs of the Surgeon General's Department and the four medical agencies (the Defence Secondary Care Agency, Defence Dental Agency, the Medical Supplies Agency and the Defence Medical Training Organisation), the single Service Medical Directorates General, the Institute of Naval Medicine, the Centre for Aviation Medicine and British Forces Germany. Except for British Forces Germany, the figures exclude primary care costs. Figures for Germany cover secondary care for Army and RAF personnel and primary care for Army personnel from 1996–1997 to 2000–2001 and both Army and remaining RAF personnel in 2001–2002.
	4. Except where advised above, primary care costs cannot be provided without disproportionate effort as they are disaggregated and are embedded in individual units' budgets.
	5. It should be noted that although the Ministry of Defence has changed accounting systems to include full Resource Accounts in financial year 2001–2002 (which include costs of fixed assets etc, not reported previously), the figures contained in the table have been adjusted to allow comparison with the previous years.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Bills introduced by his Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses; and what plans he has for the future use of such clauses.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has introduced only one Bill (which became the Armed Forces Act 2001) in the last five years that contains a sunset clause. The clause relates to the annual requirement to continue in force the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957 and provides for the three Service Acts to be continued in force until no later than the end of 2006. The expectation is that by then Parliament will have enacted a further Armed Forces Act, which will extend the lives of the Service Acts for a further five years. This accords with the procedure which Parliament has adopted for this legislation in the past.

Criminal Offences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by his Department since 1997.

Adam Ingram: One offence has been created in legislation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence since 1997. The Armed Forces Act 2001 included powers, in relation to persons subject to Service law, to test for alcohol or drugs after a serious incident and created the offence of failing to provide a sample in such circumstances. No offences have been abolished since 1997.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 26 February, Reference Number 38796, on private military companies; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I replied to the hon. Member on 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 748W.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the Question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth South of 26 February, Reference Number 38798, on private military companies; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I replied today.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 26 February, reference number 38797, on private military companies; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I replied today.

Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the statistics that are collected by his Department by English parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 8 July 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent to him by the National Statistician dated 8 July 2002.

Headline Goal

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the Common Foreign and Security Policy's Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement on when the forces will be available for use.

Geoff Hoon: The Helsinki Headline Goal has been broken down into 144 capability targets, of which 104 had been met following the Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001. Of the 40 shortfalls, about half may be resolved by improved management of existing forces. For the rest, a European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) was launched after the conference, comprising multinational panels tasked with suggesting possible solutions. Where a permanent solution is not possible by the end of 2003, interim solutions should be addressed. The European Council in Laeken in December 2001 agreed that the European Union was now able to conduct some crisis management operations and would be in a position to take on progressively more demanding operations as the assets and capabilities at its disposal continue to develop. There is no intention to create a standing EU force: existing national or multinational forces will be made available to the EU on a case by case basis when required for an operation.

Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 biggest contracts awarded, in terms of initial estimated total cost since 1 May 1997, and provide in each case (a) the expected completion dates on contracts being let and (b) the expected completion dates achieved.

Lewis Moonie: The ten biggest contracts by value awarded by the Ministry of Defence since 1 May 1997 are as follows:
	BOWMAN Fully Integrated Communications and Information System
	A contract for the provision of the BOWMAN fully integrated communications and information system, including manufacture of equipments; test, evaluation and acceptance of the platforms to incorporate them; delivery of converted and commissioned platforms and buildings; provision of integrated logistics support; and supply of documents and publications was placed with General Dynamics United Kingdom on 13 September 2001. The expected completion date is 31 March 2009.
	Main Building Redevelopment
	A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract was placed in May 2000 with Modus Services Plc for the redevelopment of the MOD Main Building in London to provide the modern flexible working environment needed to provide effective direction and support to the armed forces. The contract also covers short term decant arrangements as well as the long term provision of a wide variety of services to both the redeveloped Main Building and the Old War Office Building. The contract will be complete in 2030, with reoccupation of Main Building in 2004.
	Type 45
	A contract was placed in December 2000 with BAE SYSTEMS Electronics Ltd for the demonstration and first of class manufacture phase of the Type 45 programme, covering the design and build of the first three Type 45s plus up to six ship sets of certain major equipment. The original contract acceptance date, based on three ships, is 30 September 2009. PAAMS
	A contract was placed in August 1999 with EUROPAAMS by France on behalf of the United Kingdom, France and Italy for full scale engineering development and initial production of the PAAMS system. The contact covers equipments and missiles required for each of the three nations' ''First of Class'' ships. The expected completion date is June 2007.
	Joint Services Command and Staff College
	A PFI contract was placed in June 1998 with Defence Management (Watchfield) for the provision of academic training and support services for students and officers from the United Kingdom Armed Forces and Armed Forces from abroad. The contractor also provides college and ancillary facilities, including married quarters, single living accommodation and construction of some new facilities. The new facilities have been completed and the expected completion date for the remainder of the contract is 31 August 2028.
	United Kingdom Fixed Telecommunications
	A ten year PFI contract was signed with British Telecommunications Ltd on 25 July 1997 for a strategic rationalisation of the means of delivery and operation of end to end fixed telecommunications service requirements within the United Kingdom, providing for value for money through economies of scale and other measures, whilst ensuring continued operational effectiveness. The expected completion date is 24 July 2007.
	Army Foundation College, Harrogate
	A thirty year PFI contract was let in February 2000 with Defence Training Services for the provision of vocational training, estate and store management, domestic services and transport at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. The contract also provides for a comprehensive rebuild of the facilities on the site. The College provides a route of entry into the Army for young people and provides a 42 week course providing Military and Vocational training.
	Management and Operation of the Atomic Weapon Establishments
	A contract was signed in 1999 with AWE Management Ltd. for the management and operation of the Atomic Weapon Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield. The expected completion date of contract when let was 31 March 2010.
	C17 Leasing
	A contract was let with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation for the lease of four C17 Globe master III aircraft for a seven year period. The expected completion date at the time of contract was September 2008.
	Administrative and Non-operational Support Transport Vehicles (the White Fleet)
	A Public Private Partnership contract for a ten year period until 31 August 2011 was placed on 26 January 2001 with Lex Defence Management Ltd. The contract includes the provision of administrative and non-operational support transport vehicles, including fleet management, short term hire, vehicle provision, maintenance, repair and disposal, for the United Kingdom excluding Northern Ireland.
	As all ten contracts are still running it is not yet possible to provide completion dates achieved.

Defence Intelligence Staff

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget of the Defence Intelligence Staff is; how many persons are employed in this section; what the aims and objectives of the DIS are; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The budget of the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) for the financial year 2002–2003 is as follows:
	
		
			  # million 
		
		
			 Resource Control 173.85 
			 Capital Control 12.754 
		
	
	There were 3,969 permanent staff employed by the DIS on 31 March 2002. This figure excludes contractors and reservists.
	As part of the Ministry of Defence, the principal task of the DIS is to provide defence intelligence support from a wide range of sources, both secret and public, to the preparation and conduct of military operations, the formulation of defence policy and the Equipment Capability programmes. In addition, the DIS contributes from the defence intelligence perspective to the work of the Joint Intelligence Committee, other Government Departments, NATO and the EU Military Staff.
	The DIS includes two agencies, the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA) which provides imagery intelligence and geographic support and the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) which provides intelligence and security training. Both agencies publish Annual Reports and Accounts which include Key Targets and details of performance against them in accordance with statutory requirements.
	Further information about the Defence Intelligence Staff can be found on the MOD's website, www.mod.uk.

US Military Assistance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of US military assistance by forces resident in the UK to civilians in respect of (a) civil emergencies and (b) exchange and familiarisation of personnel.

Adam Ingram: There is no formal arrangement for United States Visiting Forces (USVF) to assist United Kingdom civil authorities in respect of civil emergencies or for the exchange and familiarisation of personnel. The USVF do however respond positively to specific requests for assistance by United Kingdom civil authorities, in particular in respect of search and rescue operations.

Nuclear Testing (Kiribati)

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given in the last five years resulting from British nuclear testing in Kiribati.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence arranged and took part in a specialist Reconnaissance Survey on Kiritimati during September 1998 to identify the types and quantities of waste materials, including an assessment of environmental risks, arising from the island's use as a base for the United Kingdom's nuclear test programme in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
	A further visit was made to Kiritimati in August 2000 by MOD and independent specialists to gather further detailed information for the proposed clean-up project.
	The clean-up of the waste material is to be undertaken by Contractors appointed and managed by specialists in the MOD. Preparatory work is currently underway with the actual clean-up work on site expected to start in 2003.

Wind Energy Technology

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the impact of his Department's policy on radar coverage and low flying upon the Government's policy to expand wind energy technology; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Ministry of Defence officials are currently involved in a steering group with the Department of Trade and Industry, Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services and the British Wind Energy Association. The group aims to address some of the issues that lead to the MOD and others making objections to developers' proposals. The MOD is currently assisting in a DTI-sponsored project by QinetiQ to study the effects of turbines on radar.
	The MOD is acutely aware of the government's stated aim to achieve 10 per cent. of the United Kingdom's energy from green sources by 2010 and makes every effort to assist in achieving this. However, the Government is also committed to maintaining flight safety and the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

Wind Energy Technology

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many proposed windfarms have been objected to by his Department in the last two years; and if he will list them.

Lewis Moonie: Since 1 January 2000, the Ministry of Defence has objected to a total of 284 wind energy proposals, but has had no objection to over 400.
	I will write separately with the list and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Wind Energy Technology

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he objects to windfarms only if they interfere with the operation of RAF aircraft; and whether other nations are consulted prior to entering an objection to a windfarm.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence deal with every wind energy proposal individually and all are given a full and thorough appraisal by at least seven separate Technical Advisors each with their own specialism including Radar, Low Flying, Communication Links and Met Office Radar. Other nations are not involved in the process of windfarm appraisal.

Nuclear Energy

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Department's plans for use and development of nuclear energy facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Plutonium is the only fissile material produced in reactors. In April 1995 the then Foreign Secretary announced that the United Kingdom had ceased the production of fissile material for explosive purposes. Ministry of Defence has sufficient stocks of plutonium (as announced in SDR) to meet foreseeable needs. The UK supports the need for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty which would ban the production of fissile material for explosive purposes. Chapelcross MAGNOX reactors currently produce tritium for the national nuclear deterrent. BNFL has announced its decision to close Chapelcross by March 2005. Sufficient stocks of tritium are held to meet the needs of the Trident programme. Any decision on a replacement source of tritium, should one be required, will not need to be taken for many years.

War Disablement Pensions

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in receipt of war disablement pensions were (a) receiving income support, (b) over retirement age and (c) in full-time employment in each of the last five years.

Lewis Moonie: The Veterans Agency administers the war pensions scheme. It does not retain statistical information relating to receipt of other benefits such as income support, or to the employment status of war disablement pensioners.
	The following information is available in relation to those in receipt of war disablement pension (WDP):
	At 31/3/1998: 259,160 WDP in payment—187,241 aged 65 or over
	At 31/3/1999: 249,344 WDP in payment—179,868 aged 65 or over
	At 31/3/2000: 239,423 WDP in payment—172,030 aged 65 or over
	At 31/3/2001: 222,534 WDP in payment—158,971 aged 65 or over (men)
	9,088 WDP in payment—6,872 aged 60 or over (women)
	At 31/3/2002: 213,353 WDP in payment—151,527 aged 65 or over (men)
	8,893 WDP in payment—6,585 aged 60 or over (women)
	Prior to April 2000, data for war disablement pensions paid to men and women over retirement age was not recorded separately.

Saville Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason his Department is not represented at the Saville Inquiry.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not a party to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry because the MOD of today has neither a case to put nor a position to defend.
	The MOD has been represented by Counsel when invited to do so by the Tribunal to give assistance on specific matters. In addition, officials from the MOD have maintained a near-permanent presence at the hearings.

Saville Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  who was responsible for the storage of photographs held by the Army legal team at the Widgery Inquiry; in what conditions and where these photographs were stored; when they will be produced for the Saville Inquiry; and what further photographs of Bloody Sunday are available;
	(2)  if he will list the (a) cinematic, (b) heli-telly and (c) other moving image photographic film clips of events on Bloody Sunday (i) available at the time of the Widgery Inquiry and (ii) discovered since; in what conditions and where these photographs were stored; who was responsible for their safekeeping; and which of these items have been (A) produced for the Saville Inquiry, (B) lost and (C) destroyed.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has provided the Bloody Sunday Inquiry with written statements on the subjects of photographs and film, and an official of this Department will give evidence to the Inquiry in the near future.
	It would therefore be inappropriate to comment separately on these matters, and I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Saville Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cost has been incurred by the legal representation of Soldier ''L'' at the Saville Inquiry.

Adam Ingram: Up to 9 September 2002 the Ministry of Defence has incurred costs of #346,977.30 for the legal representation of Soldier ''L'' at the Saville Inquiry.

Colombia

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service personnel broken down by regiment and (b) other members of his staff have visited Colombia; what the purpose was of each visit; and what assistance he has provided the Colombian Government in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: We do from time to time send military liaison teams to Colombia to provide advice and training assistance. The nature of this advice and assistance is confidential between governments and I am withholding the details under Exemption 1 of the code of practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.

Alcohol and Tobacco

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rules are governing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco (a) on military premises, (b) in administration areas and (c) on operational duties.

Adam Ingram: Service policies are based on education and personal responsibility for alcohol consumption and smoking.
	Queen's Regulations, administrative instructions and policy guidance lay down general principles for the control and consumption of alcohol. Commanding officers are required to ensure that they have clear and effective local orders concerning alcohol and that these are enforced. These cover messes, bars, clubs and single living accommodation. Particular attention is given to the law relating to young people and the legal age for consuming alcohol. Specific single-Service directions are issued concerning fitness for duty, especially for safety critical posts and other designated tasks such as flying, driving and the carrying of arms.
	Instructions and guidance on tobacco consumption mainly relate to health and safety, including restrictions on smoking in the workplace and in messes and accommodation areas and of course in the vicinity of military equipment and flammable substances.

Corporal John Gregory and Sergeant Robert Busuttil

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of Corporal John Gregory and Sergeant Robert Busuttil.

Lewis Moonie: An investigation into the deaths of Corporal John Gregory and Sergeant Robert Busuttil was instigated immediately after the incident. Initial reports were compiled by the Kabul Detachment of the Royal Military Police and the 32nd Section of the Royal Military Police (United Kingdom) Special Investigation Branch. The investigation is not yet complete and remains ongoing at this time.

HMS Nottingham

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a replacement ship has been sent to cover the mission of HMS Nottingham.

Adam Ingram: A direct replacement ship will not be sent to cover the remaining parts of Nottingham's programme.
	As I stated in my answer of 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 759W, to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) HMS Nottingham deployed for duties associated with the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) including Exercise STARDEX. She was subsequently assigned to Coalition Maritime Operations in the Middle East, and was being held at notice for this purpose while deployed to the Asia Pacific region. HMS York has been nominated as the ship held at readiness in support of the fight against terrorism.
	RFA Diligence has been offered to take part in Exercise STARDEX, as an indication of United Kingdom's continued support to FPDA.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of procuring Trident missiles from the United States has been in each year since the procurement contract was initiated.

Lewis Moonie: The cost of procuring the Trident II (unarmed) missiles from the US under the Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended for Trident) has been as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year Amount #M 
		
		
			 1980–81 0.023 
			 1981–82 4.012 
			 1982–83 8.471 
			 1983–84 2.164 
			 1984–85 2.009 
			 1985–86 2.015 
			 1986–87 0.308 
			 1987–88 5.083 
			 1988–89 7.368 
			 1989–90 16.885 
			 1990–91 28.800 
			 1991–92 71.936 
			 1992–93 108.132 
			 1993–94 279.714 
			 1994–95 188.299 
			 1995–96 68.781 
			 1996–97 48.140 
			 1997–98 86.647 
			 1998–99 79.264 
			 1999–2000 71.524 
			 2000–2001 53.223 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The final figure for 2001–2002 is not yet available.
	2. Figures given are gross payments and do not take account of the credits due to the UK under the 1998 MOU to reduce the overall missile buy in accordance with SDR. These affect 2000–2001 onwards.
	3. The costs cover only production costs as the UK paid no development costs for the missiles.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr Tonge) of 8 July, Official Report, column 714W, on nuclear missile defence, whether the collaborative research and information exchange will involve nuclear-based technology.

Geoff Hoon: There are no plans for this work to involve nuclear-based technologies.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost of deploying British personnel in the United States as a result of (a) the United Kingdom purchase of nuclear weapons from the United States, (b) the United Kingdom testing of nuclear weapons in the United States and (c) other logistical requirements, including C3 expertise, of procuring nuclear weapons from the United States has been since 1972.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom does not purchase nuclear weapons from the United States. Article 1 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons forbids all nuclear weapon states from supplying nuclear weapons to any other state.
	The remainder of the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Weapons

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under which budget headings the projected expenditure on (a) the Trident programme, (b) Nuclear Warhead Stability Review, (c) nuclear waste disposal, (d) nuclear site security and (e) remediation of radioactively contaminated land and buildings on defence nuclear sites, as listed in tables 1 to 6 of CM 5412, Ministry of Defence Expenditure Plans 2002–04, published on 9 July, will be placed.

Adam Ingram: Projected expenditure on items (a)–(e) falls under ''Provision of Defence Capability'' for the Ministry of Defence Resource Budget (of which part is counted against the MOD's Departmental Expenditure Limit and part against non-cash items in Annually Managed Expenditure). Projected expenditure on items (a), (c), (d) and (e) also falls under ''Provision of Defence Capability'' for the MOD Capital Budget.
	The majority of this projected expenditure (both Resource and Capital) falls within three of our Top Level Budgets; Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Defence Logistics and Defence Procurement Agency. However additional projected Resource expenditure also falls within Land Command, RAF Strike Command and the Central Top Level Budget for item (d).
	A wide range of assets is also employed in support of these activities, covering most of the categories in Table 4.

Equipment (Heat and Desert Conditions)

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of the Challenger I tank in extreme heat and desert conditions.

Adam Ingram: The Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank is no longer in service and has been replaced by Challenger 2.
	Challenger 2 was deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea II, held in Oman last year, where it was operated in extremely hot, dry, desert conditions. Post-exercise reports confirm that the tank performed very well during the Exercise, notwithstanding the higher than anticipated usage of engine air filters. Trials of possible enhancements to reduce the effects of high concentrations of dust on the tank are currently taking place.

Equipment (Heat and Desert Conditions)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made to address the problems with (a) the Challenger 2, (b) AS90 and (c) suitability of personal equipment highlighted by the Saif Sareea II exercise.

Adam Ingram: Trials of possible enhancements to reduce the effects of high concentrations of dust on the Challenger 2 are currently taking place.
	To enhance the AS90's ability to operate more effectively in desert conditions, a Desertisation Upgrade Pack is being scoped with the Design Authority.
	Personnel working on Exercise Saif Sareea II preparations over the summer months were issued with desert combat boots. It was considered that regular combat boots would be appropriate, given the expected temperatures, for the main exercise phase during the autumn. Temperatures were, however, significantly higher and a useful lesson learnt has been that for future deployments, in such temperatures, it would be appropriate for all troops to be issued with desert combat boots.
	Both desert and temperate camouflaged uniforms were approved for use on Exercise Saif Sareea II. Following experience in Oman and Afghanistan, we intend to determine the optimum upper temperature range for the temperate uniform.

SA80

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the SA80 rifle; and whether it will continue in service.

Adam Ingram: The SA80 modification programme has significantly improved the reliability and performance of the weapon. Extensive trials were carried out in severe climatic conditions including the desert, the arctic and the jungle; these trials confirmed the newly modified weapon's superior capabilities. More recent trials and demonstrations in Afghanistan and Oman have established beyond doubt that the weapon is highly accurate, reliable, and that it can be effectively maintained in an operational environment.
	The modified weapon, the SA80 A2, is being deployed over the period December 2001 to May 2006 and is due to remain in service until 2020.

Training Exercises

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans a further exercise on the scale of Saif Sareea II; and what recent exercises have taken place in different (a) geographical and (b) environmental conditions.

Adam Ingram: We aim to hold periodic exercises on the scale of Saif Sareea II but planning for the next one is still at a very early stage. Exercises at all levels frequently take place in different geographical and environmental conditions to prepare our armed forces for the many different challenges they may face, some long planned and some at short notice. A list of the most recent exercises could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information is only held centrally on major exercises listed in the Ministry of Defence's Defence Exercise Programme (DXP) which covers some 350 exercises each year. Examples from the DXP of recent exercises in different geographical and environmental conditions include:
	
		
			 Exercise name Date Location Type 
		
		
			 PANTHER CUB Feb 02 Belize Land Command jungle warfare training 
			 STRONG RESOLVE Mar 02 Norway/Poland Tri-Service participation in quadrennial NATO LIVEX 
			 RED FLAG Mar 02 USA HQ Strike Command air exercise in USA 
			 GRAND PRIX Mar 02 Kenya Land Command battlegroup exercise 
			 JOINT VENTURE May 02 UK PJHQ tri-Service Component Commander Command Post Exercise 
			 STARDEX 02 Jul 02 Malaysia FLEET exercise within Five Power Defence Agreement

MOX

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications his Department has had with the Belgian Government since March 2001 in respect of the manufacture of lead test MOX assemblies for the United States Department of Energy.

Adam Ingram: None.

Common European Security and Defence Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the Common European Security and Defence policy.

Geoff Hoon: The European Security and Defence Policy seeks to strengthen Europe's military capabilities and to support the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, while enabling a better and more coherent European contribution to NATO. It gives the EU the ability to take military decisions, and to take control of crisis management operations where NATO as a whole is not engaged.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the threat posed to Britain by weapons of mass destruction.

Geoff Hoon: We remain concerned about the threat from weapons of mass destruction to the United Kingdom and to UK interests. We continue to monitor developments closely. The Government's dossier on the threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was published on 24 September.
	Although we assess that terrorists are more likely to mount conventional attacks, as long as Al Qaeda views the United Kingdom as a target, we cannot rule out the risk of a terrorist attack using chemical, biological or nuclear materials on the UK or its interests.

Army Training Estate

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the civilian recreational groups which have had access to the Army Training Estate, Salisbury Plain, since January; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Since January this year, the following civilian recreational groups and organisations have had access to the Army Training Estate Salisbury Plain:
	
		
			 Name of Group/Organisation Activity 
		
		
			 All Wheel Drive Club Promotional Day/Safari 
			 Avon Vale Hunt Hunt 
			 Avon & Wiltshire Shooting Club Shooting 
			 Barleycroft Shoot Shooting 
			 British Model Flying Association Model Aircraft Flying 
			 British Deer Society Services Branch—Deer Management 
			 Castle Down School Cross Country Runs 
			 English Heritage Ancient Monument survey/ maintenance 
			 Mr. Flower Seed Collection 
			 Flying Druids Model Aircraft Club Model Aircraft Flying 
			 Frome & District Pistol Club Shooting 
			 Game Conservancy Trust Partridge Survey 
			 Manor Farm Leisure Carriage Drive 
			 Muzzle Loaders Rifle Range practice 
			 North Wiltshire Rifle & Pistol Club Shooting 
			 Palmer & Milburn Beagles Beagling 
			 Various Civilian Clubs Point to Point 
			 Royal Society Preservation of Birds Bird count/watch 
			 SMG TV Productions Filming 
			 SPC Promotions Mountain bike event 
			 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association Car Boot Sale 
			 Salisbury & District Gun Club Shooting 
			 Salisbury Vintage Rifle & Pistol Club Shooting 
			 Salisbury Plain Falconry Club Raptor fighting 
			 Salisbury Plain Area Mountain Bikers Mountain Bike event 
			 Sarum Orienteering Orienteering 
			 Services Dry Fly Fishing Association Fishing/river bank maintenance 
			 Southern Countries Off Road 44 Safari 
			 Southern England Trail Riders Association Enduro 
			 Southern Pointer Club Dog Show 
			 Tidworth Hunt Hunt 
			 The Crown at Everleigh Car Parking 
			 The Troop Boer War Reconstruction 
			 Warminster Running Club Imber Half Marathon 
			 Wessex Rifle Club Shooting 
			 Wiltshire & Infantry Beagles Vermin Control 
			 Wiltshire Archaeological Trust Guided tour of ancient monuments 
			 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon

Veterans

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many veterans of the armed services have made applications for skilled nursing care; and how many of these have been successful in the last five years;
	(2)  how many veterans of the second world war have had nursing care paid by the War Pensions Agency in the last five years.

Lewis Moonie: The Veterans Agency administers the War Pensions Scheme, including discretionary payments for skilled nursing care where this is required due to disablement for which a war pension has been awarded.
	The following information shows the number of applications for skilled nursing care payments made by war disablement pensioners in the last five financial years and the number of these that were successful:
	
		
			 Year Applications Successful 
		
		
			 1997–1998 197 104 
			 1998–1999 132 52 
			 1999–2000 85 23 
			 2000–2001 34 1 
			 2001–2002 51 15 
			  
			 Total 499 195 
		
	
	Separate records are not held for Second World War veterans in relation to skilled nursing care.

Food Supplies

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total food purchased for the armed forces in the last 12 months was purchased overseas.

Adam Ingram: In the last 12 months, approximately 28 per cent. of the food supplied to the armed forces by the Ministry of Defence's food supply contractor, ''3663,'' was purchased overseas. This figure includes foods that are not produced in this country and others that have to be purchased overseas for Service personnel serving abroad, due to export or customs restrictions. Of the food purchased for use in Operational Ration Packs only 14 per cent. is purchased overseas.

Annington Homes

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings in the Taunton constituency were sold to Annington Homes; when the sale took place; how many dwellings are available for married soldiers; how many have been demolished; and how many have been sold.

Lewis Moonie: 139 out of a total of 140 Ministry of Defence properties in the constituency of Taunton were sold to Annington Homes Limited (AHL), as part of the sale and leaseback of Service Families' Accommodation in November 1996. 41 of these properties have since become surplus to requirements and been handed back to AHL. 99 properties are currently available for Service families. MOD has not arranged the demolition of any properties in Taunton. The future of properties released to AHL is a matter for that company.

Defence Equipment (Israel)

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) categories and (b) quantities of defence equipment have been purchased from Israel since 8 November 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Since 8 November 2001, a total of three contracts have been placed with prime contractors based in Israel as follows:
	
		
			 Category of Equipment Quantity 
		
		
			 Simon Rounds 20 
			 Light Machine Guns 7 
			 Assembly of Aircrew Equipment Assemblies 3

Sapper Alfred Graham Manship

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigation was held into the death of Sapper Alfred Graham Manship of 26 Amphibious Regiment Royal Engineers in 1992 in Osnabruck, West Germany; how long the investigation took; when the investigation ended; who conducted the investigation; what the conclusion of the investigation was; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police (SIB RMP) was responsible for investigating the death of Sapper Manship in Osnabruck, Germany, in 1992. The investigation began when the SIB RMP was informed of Sapper Manship's death in the early hours of Monday 6 April 1992 and was completed on 16 April 1992. The investigation was led by an experienced SIB RMP investigator of the rank of Staff Sergeant and, as for all SIB RMP inquiries, was overseen by the Officer Commanding the SIB RMP Detachment. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence to indicate foul play and that Sapper Manship had taken his own life.

Sapper Alfred Graham Manship

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the period of time was between the discovery of the body of Sapper Alfred Graham Manship of 26 Amphibious Regiment Royal Engineers in 1992 in Osnabruck, West Germany and (a) a doctor being called to attend the scene and (b) a doctor arriving on the scene; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Sapper Manship's body was discovered by another soldier at approximately 0237hrs on 6 April 1992. The emergency services were summoned and a doctor attended the scene at around 0255hrs. Sapper Manship was declared dead at the scene at 0258hrs.

Sapper Alfred Graham Manship

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the weapon of Sapper Alfred Graham Manship of 26 Amphibious Regiment Royal Engineers was found to have been fired when examined after his death in 1992 in Osnabruck, West Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Following the certification of death of Sapper (Spr) Manship, his weapon was recovered from the scene and handed to the Class 1 Armourer at 25 Regiment Royal Engineers for examination. The practice of submitting weapons subject to investigation to qualified personnel outside the unit in whose charge they are is standard for Royal Military Police (RMP) investigations.
	In the statement recorded from the Armourer, he opined that the weapon was found to be serviceable and no faults could be discovered in its mechanical function. The Armourer did not make any specific reference to whether the weapon had been fired.
	RMP enquiries established that Spr Manship had been issued with an SA80 Assault Rifle, plus 30 rounds of ammunition for his guard duty. The batch number of the spent ammunition recovered from the scene was found to be that of the ammunition issued to Spr Manship. In view of this, the location of the wound site, and all other enquiries conducted, the RMP investigating officer concluded that the submission of the weapon or spent ammunition to scientific analysis would not achieve any investigative purpose and would serve only to delay the release of Spr Manship's body to his family.

Sapper Alfred Graham Manship

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) cause, (b) circumstances and (c) coroner's verdict on the death of Sapper Alfred Graham Manship of the 26 Amphibious Regiment Royal Engineers in 1992 in Osnabruck West Germany.

Lewis Moonie: Sapper Manship died on 6 April 1992 from a single gunshot wound to the head whilst on guard duty at Woolwich Barracks, Osnabruck, Germany. Following the subsequent Post Mortem Examination, Sapper Manship's body was repatriated to Scotland from Germany and the Procurator Fiscal was informed of the death. Under the legislation which allows for the holding of a Fatal Accident Inquiry, the Procurator Fiscal will only hold such an inquiry where the death occurred in Scotland or on an offshore installation, aircraft or ship. Since the death did not occur within Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal did not hold an inquiry in this case; this decision was not within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence.

Sapper Alfred Graham Manship

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result was of the post mortem conducted on Sapper Alfred Graham Manship of 26 Amphibious Regiment Royal Engineers after his death in 1992 in Osnabruck West Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Post Mortem Examination was conducted by the Consultant Pathologist at the British Military Hospital at Rinteln. On the death certificate, dated 6 April 1992, the cause of death was recorded as Gunshot Head Injuries.

European Integration Conference

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the First Conference of EU Military Schools and Academies on the theme of the military dimension of European integration, held at Coeitquidan.

Geoff Hoon: The European Military Academies Conference on the theme of ''European Integration—The Military Dimension'' was held at the French Military Academy, St Cyr in July of this year. The conference was sponsored by the European Commission. The conference addressed a number of topics related to European Defence, such as possible crisis management scenarios and defence industry cooperation. There was no direct involvement by HM Government or the Ministry of Defence in its organisation.
	The Conference was attended by delegates from many European nations including a number of officer cadets and staff from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

RAF Chilmark

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of ordnance clearance at RAF Chilmark; and when the site will be put on the market.

Lewis Moonie: The cost over the first five years since the closure of the site of clearing explosive ordnance has been in the region of #1.7 million. A further #371,000 has been spent on preparation of Land Quality Assessments and remediation.
	RAF Chilmark is currently being prepared for disposal. It is anticipated that the sale of the freehold will take place during 2003 when clearance is complete.

RAF Chilmark

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in constituting a trust to manage RAF Chilmark; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The constitution of a Trust for that part of the former RAF Chilmark which has wildlife and conservation interest is a matter for the interested parties. The Ministry of Defence will not be part of the Trust. Defence Estates is currently in discussion with representatives of the potential Trustees and is waiting to receive their firm proposals for the purchase and management of the site.

Anti-tank Missile Loss (Bristol Channel)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the pallet of an anti-tank missile lost in the Bristol Channel recently has been found.

Lewis Moonie: No. Searches of the area have been carried out by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the Coastguard, the RAF and, more recently, Royal Navy divers. However, the pallet has not been found.

Ammunition

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what type of ammunition has been imported to the UK for the use of the army, and at what cost, over the last 12 months.

Lewis Moonie: In the 12 months up to 26 July 2002, the following types of ammunition have been imported to the United Kingdom for the use of the military:
	7.62mm BALL, 21mm ROCKET SYSTEM, 21mm TRAINING SYSTEM, 0.5 4B/IT, .338 LAPUA, 12.7mm 4MP, 12.7mm 1MP, 5.56mm AP, 9mm MARKER, 66mm, GOALKEEPER MPDS, GOALKEEPER FMPDS, 9mm, 66mm, .338mm and 14.5mm Artillery Training L21A1 (Charge 2).
	I am withholding information regarding the cost of importing this ammunition in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what orders were issued and special arrangements made concerning conduct of service personnel from the Royal Irish Regiment during the marching season in 2002; how many soldiers were subject to disciplinary proceedings that related to inappropriate political activity during this period; and what the outcome was of proceedings.

Adam Ingram: Each year all service personnel serving in Northern Ireland, including members of the Royal Irish Regiment, are reminded in unit orders of the Army's policy regarding participation in political activities and demonstrations. Three soldiers were investigated by the Royal Military Police for possible breach of this policy. At present there is one soldier subject to proceedings.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedure is in Northern Ireland for the investigation of a suspicious death or one from non-natural causes on military premises.

Adam Ingram: The Police Service of Northern Ireland retain jurisdiction for the investigation of all suspicious deaths that may occur on military premises within Northern Ireland. This is the same procedure and jurisdiction that applies throughout the whole of the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reasons were that underlie his decision to erect a new surveillance tower at Slievebracken Mount, Forkhill in July; what consultation he carried out with locally elected representatives and community organisations; and what the estimated cost is of this construction.

Adam Ingram: I believe that the structure you refer to is the temporary water tower on Slievebracken Mountain, Forkhill. It was not a surveillance tower. The Ministry of Defence has crown immunity with regard to planning permission and there was no consultation carried out with locally elected representatives or community organisations. As military personnel carried out the work on this temporary structure there were no costs involved other than those for the construction materials, the cost of irrecoverable items being estimated at some #3,500.
	The temporary structure has now been removed.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many baton log reports were filed in each month of the last two years; what information fields are to be filled in by each person involved in the compilation of a report leading up the chain of command to HQNI; which of those fields must be completed and which are optional; and if he will make a statement on the processes involved in the entry of data from baton log reports to (a) a centralised database and (b) other systems.

Adam Ingram: The number of baton log reports files in each month over the last two years are set out in the table below:
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January  0 0 
			 February  2 0 
			 March  0 0 
			 April  0 3 
			 May  0 11 
			 June  0 17 
			 July  1 34 
			 August  0 18 
			 September  3 2 
			 October 0 1 
			 November 0 9 
			 December 0 1 
			  
			 Total 0 17 85 
		
	
	All fields of the baton log report are completed by the person ordering the firing of the baton round before it is forwarded to HQNI. The information from the baton log is scrutinised by the chain of command in HQNI and is stored in hard copy form as well as on a database.

Mobile Phones

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rules are governing the carriage and use of personal mobile phones by service personnel of all ranks on operational duties at home and overseas; and what sanctions are available to superior officers to enforce those rules.

Adam Ingram: There are no specific rules that govern the carriage of personal mobile phones by members of the Armed Forces on operational duties; and the use of personal mobile phones during deployments and operations is at the discretion of the local Commander. Joint Service Publication 440 details the regulations concerning the security classification of information that can be discussed on mobile phones. It also authorises commanders to prohibit the use of mobile phones on Ministry of Defence sites and in locations denoted as ''Hazardous Areas'' or in areas containing classified communications equipment. Additionally, although there are no specific sanctions for the misuse of mobile phones, commanders may restrict their use in a geographic location or for a specific period of time for operational reasons. The mechanism for enforcing this is through Theatre Standing Orders. Service personnel who fail to comply with published Standing Orders or with a lawful command would be subject to disciplinary action under normal disciplinary procedures, enforceable through Queen's Regulations.

Beryllium

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department had with the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the decision to license the export of beryllium to (a) India and (b) Iran in 2001.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has regular discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry on all relevant aspects of export licensing. Disclosure of internal opinions, advice, recommendation and consultation on individual export licence issues could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussions. I am, therefore, withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 2 (Internal Discussions and advice) of Part II of the Government's Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 11 September 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay regarding foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: I responded to the hon. Member on 7 October.

Recycling

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest estimate is of recycling rates of waste (a) paper, (b) glass, (c) metal, (d) wood and (e) cloth for each London borough; what the Government targets are in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Recycling data are collected in the Department's annual Municipal Waste Management Survey 2000–01. The total tonnages collected for recycling for different materials are listed below for all London boroughs and the four London Waste Disposal Authorities. Recycling rates are not available for individual materials. Separate recycling tonnages are not available for wood.
	The Government's Waste Strategy 2000 established national targets of recycling or composting at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005, 30 per cent. by 2010 and 33 per cent. by 2015. These targets are not material specific.
	To underpin the national targets, we have set challenging statutory performance standards for recycling or composting household waste for each local authority in England. Authorities must, on average, double their 1998–99 recycling rate by 2003–04 and triple their 1998–99 rate by 2005–06.
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) set annual recovery and material-specific recycling targets for certain businesses. The material-specific recycling target of 19 per cent. set for 2002 covers paper, glass and aluminium.
	
		
			 tonnes 
			 Authority Paper and card Glass Cans, scrap metal and white goods Textiles 
		
		
			 Unitary Authorities 
			 Bexley 10,719 1,447 1,799 48 
			 Bromley 16,512 3,043 2,436 508 
			 Croydon 6,645 2,397 4,518 399 
			 Greenwich 2,250 786 2,209 69 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 5,534 958 2,023 134 
			 Lewisham 3,836 1,260 67 48 
			 London Corporation 3 7 0 0 
			 Merton 7,052 1,284 1,096 245 
			 Southwark 1,808 1,054 126 104 
			 Sutton 4,686 2,114 685 192 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,132 711 123 82 
			 Westminster City 4,181 2,052 37 118 
			 
			 Waste Collection Authorities 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,232 375 260 257 
			 Barnet 8,128 1,655 106 235 
			 Brent 4,652 1,747 268 419 
			 Camden 9,980 3,303 982 604 
			 Ealing 7,310 3,511 811 271 
			 Enfield 4,182 1,481 1,164 189 
			 Hackney 485 545 13 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,908 1,280 75 72 
			 Haringey 3,774 894 591 40 
			 Harrow 6,484 1,639 1,033 172 
			 Havering 883 1,163 429 244 
			 Hillingdon 3,882 1,652 3,976 317 
			 Hounslow 6,671 2,693 2,288 296 
			 Islington 2,761 1,494 74 20 
			 Lambeth 5,380 3,202 714 189 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7,383 1,265 203 1 
			 Newham 1,305 428 465 75 
			 Redbridge 4,179 872 585 171 
			 Richmond upon Thames 8,111 2,945 1,284 320 
			 Waltham Forest 3,127 1,222 743 184 
			 Wandsworth 4,663 2,193 193 17 
			 Waste Disposal Authorities 
			 East London Waste 
			 Authority 0 0 0 0 
			 North London Waste 
			 Authority 0 0 0 0 
			 West London Waste 
			 Authority 0 0 1,460 0 
			 Western Riverside Waste 
			 Authority 511 165 434 3 
			  
			 Grand Total 163,349 52,837 33,270 6,043

Recycling

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what figures she collates on the recycling rates for (a) car batteries, (b) alkaline batteries, (c) computers and (d) mobile phones in each London borough; what the figures were in each of the past five years; and what plans she has to increase recycling rates.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2002
	Recycling data are collected in the Department's Municipal Waste Management Survey 2000–01. The total tonnages collected for recycling for batteries are listed below for all London boroughs and the four London Waste Disposal Authorities. Recycling rates are not available for individual materials. Recycling tonnages are not available for computers or mobile phones.
	All local authorities have been set challenging individual statutory performance standards for recycling and composting. These can be found in the Government's Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies, published in March 2001. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library and from the DEFRA website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/management/guidance/mwms/index.htm
	
		Tonnages of batteries collected for recycling 2000–01
		
			  tonnes 
		
		
			 Unitary Authorities 
			 Bexley 46 
			 Bromley 105 
			 City of Westminster 0 
			 Corporation of London 0 
			 Croydon 0 
			 Greenwich 34 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 55 
			 Lewisham 0 
			 Merton 0 
			 Southwark 4 
			 Sutton 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 
			 Waste Collection Authorities 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 
			 Barnet 0 
			 Brent 0 
			 Camden 20 
			 Ealing 43 
			 Enfield 42 
			 Hackney 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Haringey 0 
			 Harrow 41 
			 Havering 61 
			 Hillingdon 0 
			 Hounslow 17 
			 Islington 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 
			 Lambeth 10 
			 Newham 23 
			 Redbridge 312 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 
			 Waltham Forest 37 
			 Wandsworth 0 
			 Waste Disposal Authorities 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 20 
			 East London Waste Authority 0 
			 North London Waste Authority 0 
			 West London Waste Authority 0

Moorings (London)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what forecasts have been made by British Waterways of the (a) number, (b) cost and (c) distribution of residential and non-residential moorings in London as a consequence of their review of licence and permit conditions.

Alun Michael: None. British Waterways' review of licence and permit conditions relates solely to vessel dimensions, the terms under which vessels may use the waterways and, where applicable, the terms and conditions of mooring.
	I understand that my hon. Friend met British Waterways on 13 September to discuss these issues.

Sellafield

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs were incurred in (a) historic and (b) current prices in carrying out the monitoring of nuclear waste discharges to the Irish Sea from the Windscale plant.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2002
	Monitoring of discharges is mainly the responsibility of the operator and so the majority of the costs of monitoring discharges from Windscale (which has been known as Sellafield since the early 1980s) would have fallen to BNFL and its predecessors. No information is held by the Department or by the Environment Agency about the costs of monitoring by operators.

Packaging Waste

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her estimate is of the changes in packaging quantities on (a) food and (b) non-food goods on retail sale over the past five years; what proportion of this is recyclable; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to reduce packaging on retail sales; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) include incentives for businesses to minimise the amount of packaging they use and actively encourage the reuse of packaging. Packaging which is being reused carries no obligation after its first obligated trip. By increasing the amount of packaging reused, producers are therefore able to reduce their costs of compliance. By placing a tonnage obligation on producers, the Regulations also encourage them to reduce the amount of packaging used.
	In addition, the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1997 include a requirement that packaging must be minimal subject to the safety and hygiene of the packed product to the consumer. The Regulations are enforced by local Trading Standards Officers, and two examples of prosecution under these regulations are known to the Department.
	We have no detailed information on the quantity of packaging used in food and non-food goods on retail sale.

Producer Responsibility

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her policy is regarding producer responsibility of WEEE for the EU conciliation process;
	(2)  how she intends to define producer responsibility for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive to make it compatible with the producer pays principle;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on her policy regarding the principle of individual producer responsibility;
	(4)  what steps she is taking to secure well-defined individual producer responsibility for electronic waste.

Michael Meacher: The Government welcomes the proposed EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The Department works closely with all Departments, in particular with the DTI, who lead in negotiations, on this Directive. The Directive is still under negotiation and without a final text it is too early to provide details of how it will be implemented in the UK.
	The Government supports the principle of individual producer responsibility, though we believe collective responsibility should be kept open as an option where otherwise there could be disproportionate costs to SMEs. The Common position text allows a collective as well as an individual approach to producer responsibility, and both uphold the polluter pays principle.

EU Environmental Liability Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the need for compulsory insurance as part of the EU Environmental Liability Directive regime to give polluters a greater incentive to avoid environmental damage.

Alun Michael: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The European Commission's draft Directive on Environmental Liability requires Member States to encourage the use by operators of any appropriate insurance or other forms of financial security.
	Compulsory insurance is one possible means of financial security and was covered by the Government's public consultation which ended on 24 May 2002, and in the extended partial regulatory impact assessment (COM (02) 17). A mechanism such as this could support both the prevention and remediation aspects of the proposed Directive, with insurers offering policies on the basis of best environmental practice. It would also ensure that a source of funding was available for the remediation of damage, should it occur.
	The insurance industry has made it clear that it does not welcome compulsory insurance, but does desire a directive that is clear and workable so that cover can be offered.

EU Environmental Liability Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the inclusion of the compliance with permit and state of the art exemptions in the EU Environmental Liability Directive.

Alun Michael: holding answer 23 July 2002
	No specific assessment has been undertaken of the inclusion of the permit and state of the art exceptions. The extended partial regulatory impact assessment submitted to Parliament (COM (02) 17) did consider the implications of removal of the permit exception, to inform the UK negotiating position in preparation for any moves by other Member States to remove it.
	This assessment revealed that removal of the permit exception could have two conflicting effects: a damaging effect upon business certainty and the ability of operators to obtain financing, whilst secondly providing an incentive for operators to treat permit conditions as a minimum requirement, and therefore take further precaution in their activities to minimise their risks. By extension, inclusion of the exception could provide shareholders and operators with some confidence, but on the other hand reduce the precautionary effect.
	The same considerations may be applied to the exception for compliance with state of the art.

Ragwort

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has evaluated regarding the spread of ragwort; and what action her Department has taken to (a) combat the spread of ragwort and (b) publicise knowledge of its spread.

Alun Michael: In 2001, the former MAFF commissioned an ADAS research project to review ragwort and its control with particular reference to horses. This included a study of the factors influencing the spread of ragwort, such as changes in land use, changes in agricultural policy and climate change. The study confirmed that these factors may influence the spread of ragwort. However, it concluded that there was insufficient scientific data to allow evaluation of the extent to which the prevalence of ragwort had increased as as result of them.
	Defra investigates complaints about the spread of ragwort and other injurious weeds covered by the Weeds Act 1959 where there is a threat to farmed land or land used for the keeping of horses as part of a diversified farm businesses. When a complaint is received the occupier of the land will be asked to take action to clear the weeds. If this fails to resolve the problem, Defra has statutory powers under the Weeds Act to arrange for the weeds to be cleared and to recover the cost from the occupier of the land. In the majority of cases, complaints about ragwort are resolved through co-operation and persuasion, without the need to take legal action.
	The spread of ragwort along the sides of roads and on railway land is of particular concern to many people in the countryside. I have recently written to the Highways Agency, Local Government Association and Railtrack reminding them of the serious problems that can be caused by ragwort and urging them to ensure that they take effective clearance action.
	This year we have also revised guidance on the Weeds Act and two updated Defra leaflets are available. ''The Weeds Act 1959—Preventing the spread of harmful weeds'' gives general advice about the operation of the Weeds Act and ''The Weeds Act 1959—Guidance note on the methods that can be used to control harmful weeds'' provides technical advice on the control of ragwort and other injurious weeds. Both leaflets can be found on the Defra website and hard copies can be obtained from Defra publications.

Ouse Flooding

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that the consultation process which follows the publication of the Ouse draft flood strategy is one which allows all sections of the community to comment.

Elliot Morley: I am advised by the Environment Agency that the Ouse Strategy has undergone a consultation process during its production, with meetings occurring with Lewes Flood Action, Residents Associations and many other interest groups. A working group was established, with representations from the communities involved, including businesses, elected members, parish councillors, flood action groups and landowners.
	The purpose was to obtain advice and comments as the strategy developed, and public meetings were held in Lewes and Uckfield to facilitate this. Smaller meetings were also held with a number of other parish and residents' groups through the valley to allow for comment from other sections of the community. In addition, letters received were passed to our consultants for consideration when developing the strategy.
	The Ouse strategy now includes the Environment Agency's preferred options which are believed to represent the most economical, technical and environmentally sound proposals for the catchment. It is these options that will be forwarded to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for consideration for grant aid.
	Public meetings are being arranged by the Environment Agency in Lewes and Uckfield in August to explain the strategy, with further meetings to follow at parish level. There is still an opportunity to influence the strategy during the detailed design stage.
	Subject to approval, the strategy will be reviewed on a five yearly basis to take account of climate change and other variables.

Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what specific criteria her Department proposes for the where possible clause to become applicable within the pledge to replenish fish stocks agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Elliot Morley: The United Kingdom attaches high importance to the commitment to restore fish stocks and will be seeking to secure this by 2015 under the Common Fisheries Policy. The wording ''where possible'' was inserted to meet the concerns of some parties that the objective might in some cases in other parts of the world be biologically impossible.

Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plans to develop the partnership agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to increase the capacity of coastal developing countries to tackle and manage their fish resources; and by which year these partnerships will need to be fully operational to help achieve the 2015 millennium development goals.

Elliot Morley: A number of local, regional or thematic partnerships were announced at WSSD which are potentially relevant to helping coastal developing countries manage their fish resources. The United Kingdom will join these partnerships where we are invited to do so and it is clear that we have a contribution to make.
	The UK has been invited to join the core planning group for the ''White Water to Blue water'' initiative, promoted by the United States and intended to promote a cross-cutting approach to regional oceans and coastal ecosystem management in the Wider Caribbean region. Fisheries are within the scope of this work.
	The UK is currently exploring how it might assist global work to protect coral reefs through the International Coral Reefs Initiative, and is supporting OSPAR (the convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North East Atlantic) in developing a partnership with the equivalent convention for West Africa. Both should contribute to helping developing countries manage fish stocks more effectively.
	The Plan of Action agreed at WSSD called for action to strengthen donor coordination and partnerships to enable developing countries to develop their capacity for infrastructure and integrated management, and the sustainable use of fisheries. The UK will continue to work for this through its bilateral aid programme, through its membership of a number of regional fisheries organisations, and through partnerships with a number of UN agencies, in particular with the FAO.
	While these partnerships will contribute to the elimination of poverty, they are not explicitly timed to coincide with the Millennium Development Goals.

Ecological Surveys

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ecological surveys have been conducted by (a) English Nature and (b) his Department in respect of the sites identified for development as asylum accomodation centres to determine the presence of protected species; if the Government will publish the reports; and what further plans the Government have to commission such surveys.

Elliot Morley: I understand that there are Home Office proposals to build asylum seeker accommodation centres on surplus land at three sites; the Defence Storage and Distribution Centre near Bicester (Oxfordshire), RAF Newton (Nottinghamshire) and Throckmorton Airfield (near Pershore, Worcestershire).
	It is not the Department's role, or English Nature's, to commission or undertake ecological surveys of potential development sites. As with any planning proposal, it will be for the relevant planning authority to ensure that potential impacts on protected species are identified and considered, including requiring the developer to undertake ecological surveys where appropriate.
	English Nature's role is to provide advice to the planning authority and also to the developer on the nature conservation issues. With respect to the specific sites, English Nature reports that Wychavon District Council has commissioned an ecological survey of the Throckmorton site and also that English Nature staff have liaised with ecological consultants engaged on behalf of developers in respect of the Bicester site.
	Where European protected species will be affected by an activity such as development works then my Department administers a licensing regime under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994. A licence under these Regulations may be needed to allow the development works or other activity to proceed. Ecological surveys of sites are required from applicants as part of applications for such licences, in order to allow the conservation issues to be fully considered. There is no Crown immunity from these Regulations. At this point in time no applications have been received by my Department in respect of these sites.

Emergency Disposal Sites

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has made to implement the recommendation of the Anderson Committee that the question of compensation for communities accommodating emergency disposal sites should be researched.

Elliot Morley: We will examine this recommendation as part of our work to prepare a response to the inquiries carried out by Dr. Anderson and Sir Brian Follett.

Farming

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentive schemes are in place to (a) encourage farmers to avoid over-production, (b) increase the sustainability of farmers, (c) to make alternative use of surplus agricultural land and (d) extend the programme of crop growing for energy production.

Elliot Morley: The Government is committed to moving rapidly towards a more sustainable, competitive and diverse farming industry. Key to this is reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), where we want to phase out market price support and production controls, reduce direct payments and decouple them from production. We are also seeking to shift towards the CAP's ''second pillar'', expanding the opportunities available for targeted support for rural development and agri-environment schemes. In this context, we welcome the proposals brought forward by the Commission as part of the CAP mid-term reviews.
	In England, the schemes covered by the England Rural Development Programme play a significant role in delivering the Government's objectives for sustainable production and land management, including those listed in the question. These schemes are the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme, the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, the Organic Farming Scheme, the Hill Farm Allowance, the Woodland Grant Scheme, the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, the Rural Enterprise Scheme, the Vocational Training Scheme, the Processing and Marketing Grant and the Energy Crops Scheme. The budget for the Programme is #1.6 billion over the period 2000–2006. Similar schemes specific to Welsh needs operate within the Rural Development Plan for Wales, the total budget for which is #450 million over the same period.
	In addition, there are incentives under some of the CAP subsidy regimes to limit production, for example through livestock extensification and some schemes under the ''national envelopes''.
	The Government is working with stakeholders to develop and deliver a new strategy for sustainable farming and food in England, to be published in the autumn, which may include further measures of this kind. The devolved administrations are pursuing their own strategies. For example, the strategy for agriculture in Wales, ''Farming for the Future'', prepared in association with industry and countryside interests, was published last November.

Farming

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have been declared bankrupt per month in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Data are available for England and Wales only on a quarterly basis. The level of farm bankruptcies and insolvencies tends to be in the order of a few hundred a year (as at June 2002 there were approximately 210,000 main and minor agricultural holdings1). The annual number of total insolvencies in the last five years (1997–2001) was 240 which is nearly 40 per cent. lower than the average number in the previous 5 years (1992–1996). In 2001, the total number of insolvencies rose by 14 per cent. Quarter 1 figures are available for 2002 and show a 9 per cent. increase over the same period for 2001.
	
		Table 1 Number of Quarterly Bankruptcies in the Agriculture and Horticulture Sector: England and Wales 1991–2002
		
			 Year Quarter Individual Bankruptcy Orders 2 Company Insolvencies 3 Total Insolvencies 4  
		
		
			 1991 Q1 68 32 100 
			  Q2 64 37 101 
			  Q3 53 27 80 
			  Q4 81 39 120 
			 1992 Q1 89 38 127 
			  Q2 89 46 135 
			  Q3 62 57 119 
			  Q4 73 50 123 
			 1993 Q1 86 41 127 
			  Q2 63 42 105 
			  Q3 63 27 90 
			  Q4 65 47 112 
			 1994 Q1 60 63 123 
			  Q2 70 35 105 
			  Q3 43 35 78 
			  Q4 58 33 91 
			 1995 Q1 80 40 120 
			  Q2 65 21 86 
			  Q3 36 17 53 
			  Q4 37 21 58 
			 1996 Q1 45 23 68 
			  Q2 39 17 56 
			  Q3 54 27 81 
			  Q4 30 22 52 
			 1997 Q1 42 13 55 
			  Q2 46 10 56 
			  Q3 37 17 54 
			  Q4 30 11 41 
			 1998 Q1 42 14 56 
			  Q2 29 16 45 
			  Q3 39 23 62 
			  Q4 47 12 59 
			 1999 Q1 54 22 76 
			  Q2 50 14 64 
			  Q3 45 16 61 
			  Q4 34 23 57 
			 2000 Q1 53 18 71 
			  Q2 35 13 48 
			  Q3 52 10 62 
			  Q4 33 26 59 
			 2001 Q1 44 22 66 
			  Q2 48 25 73 
			  Q3 44 20 64 
			  Q4 47 23 70 
			 2002 Q1 42 30 72 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Defra statistics
	2 Figures for individual insolvencies comprise bankruptcy orders and individual voluntary arrangements under the Insolvency Act 1986 and deeds of arrangement under the Deeds of Arrangement Act 1914.
	3 The figures for company insolvencies are made up of compulsory liquidations (winding-up orders made by the courts) and creditors' voluntary liquidations registered at Companies House.
	4 Individual Bankruptcy Orders plus Company Insolvencies
	Source:
	Department for Trade and Industry

Farming

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of trends in farmers' suicides in the past 12 years; and how many such suicides have taken place per month in the last 12 years.

Alun Michael: There were the following number of farmers' and farm workers' deaths classified as suicides per month in the 12 years 1989–2000 in England and Wales:
	
		
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month unknown Annual total 
		
		
			 1989 7 7 2 3 3 9 7 6 8 8 6 6  72 
			 1990 10 4 7 8 8 6 5 5 9 5 3 6  76 
			 1991 3 7 12 13 2 3 6 7 8 7 5 4  77 
			 1992 5 10 9 4 3 5 8 6 5 4 5 8  72 
			 1993 9 4 6 8 7 8 10 3 8 4 8 3  78 
			 1994 3 6 9 6 5 7 11 1 8 2 4 4 1 66 
			 1995 7 7 6 5 4 4 1 4 7 4 6 2  57 
			 1996 8 5 3 11 7 4 4 3 6 4 2 8  65 
			 1997 3 8 3 5 4 7 3 5 9 3 5 4  59 
			 1998 4 2 5 13 7 5 4 2 6 6 8 10  72 
			 1999 5 2 4 5 12 6 5 7 6 3 6 9  70 
			 2000 7 8 3 4 4 6 5 4 5 6 5 2  59 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	Figures for 2001 are not yet available.
	In the Department of Health's ''National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England'', published in September 2002, farmers (and agricultural workers) are identified as a high risk occupational group. A suicide prevention strategy for England has been formulated by an expert advisory group through consultation with mental health professionals, researchers, survivors of suicide attempts, the voluntary sector, and others with relevant experience. The target is to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010. The implementation plan will be the responsibility of the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE).
	Prior to this, the Government launched the Rural Stress Action Plan in 2001 with the aim of working in partnership to deliver support to make a difference to those in distress in rural areas. Its objectives are:
	1. building on existing partnerships, and initiate new ones where there is little provision, to bring together organisations offering a range of types of support to rural people;
	2. direct assistance to farming families, both financial and practical; and
	3. effective publicity to encourage those in need to make contact with helping agencies.
	I recently announced the extension of the Plan for a third year, 2002–03; in total nearly #1m of public funding has been provided. Its existence proved of great value during last year's outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. We hope that this modest funding will go a long way to help convey the message that advice and information is available to those suffering distress in rural areas.

Common Agricultural Policy

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether steps are being taken in the context of the review of the EU Common Agricultural Policy and Structural Funds to move towards a fairer funding distribution between urban and rural and agricultural interests.

Elliot Morley: Common Agricultural Policy payments are made to producers and exporters on the basis of set eligibility criteria, regardless of whether they are from urban or rural areas. There are many traders in urban areas who receive CAP export subsidies. But by definition, the majority of recipients of direct production subsidy payments are from rural areas. Structural Funds are distributed on the basis of need: in the case of Objective 1 the criterion is an area whose population earns less than 75 per cent. of the EU average income. This applies equally between urban and rural areas.

Flood Defences

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 22 July 2002, Official Report, columns 704–05W, on flood defences, on what basis her Department keeps financial records for expenditure incurred on flood defences in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Flood management is a devolved responsibility. Records are kept of grant payments (and, for local authorities, supplementary credit approvals) made by this Department directly to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities (Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards) in England only. They are recorded at the level of individual payments and payee (in the case of the EA this is at Flood Defence Committee level) and the project to which they relate. It is possible to group payments, to total expenditure on a particular project, for all local authorities or on coast protection schemes for example, where the Department's payments database supports this.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) records revenue payments made by local authorities on flood and coastal defence for the purpose of paying Revenue Support Grant—the other mechanism by which the Government provides funding for flood and coastal defence works. Neither this Department nor the ODPM categorises payments in ways that might have assisted me to answer your previous Question and neither does the main operating authority, the Environment Agency. The Department does not routinely record other expenditure (by the operating authorities or other riparian owners).

Flood Defences

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions (a) have taken and (b) are due to take place between (i) her Department and (ii) the Government and the Association of British Insurers regarding insurance of householders on identified flood plains; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to assist households on flood plains to obtain insurance cover from the end of this year; and if she will make a statement;

Elliot Morley: There have been regular Ministerial and Official level meetings between Defra, Environment Agency, HM Treasury and Association of British Insurers (ABI) to address this issue. Meetings and discussions will continue over the coming months.
	We continue to work very closely with the Environment Agency and ABI to build a mutual understanding of flood risk. This will help develop a shared understanding with the insurance industry of the true risks of flooding in particular areas, taking account not only of the indicative flood plain but also the current and future provision of flood defences, and help achieve the mutual aim of ensuring the continued availability of affordable flood cover as widely as possible after the end of the year.

Fisheries

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the letter of 14 August, Ref 172597/JD to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what monitoring has been done of the safeguards in the Protocol with Mauritania to protect fish resources off the West African Coast.

Elliot Morley: The first meeting of the Joint Committee provided for under the EU/Mauritania Fisheries Protocol took place in June, at which the implementation of the new 2001/2006 Protocol during its first year was reviewed. A joint scientific working party was established to examine the state of the stocks and report to the Joint Committee before 1 November 2002.

Fisheries

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 14 August, Ref 172597/JD, what action she has taken during discussions on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to seek a requirement that every bilaterial fisheries agreement should be accompanied by a rigorous stock assessment and conditional on an environmental and social impact assessment.

Elliot Morley: These are matters that we shall pursue when the Commission brings forward into the CFP reform discussions the relevant elements of its proposed Strategy for European distant-water fisheries, as foreseen in the Commission's ''roadmap'' communication on the reform of CFP issued on 28 May 2002.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards the transfer of fish from a trawler at sea onto a storage vessel for transportation to port.

Elliot Morley: The transhipment of fish stocks, subject to quota, between Community fishing vessels and receiving vessels has to be notified to the competent authorities of the Member States concerned in accordance with provisions of Article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93, as amended. Separately the Receiving of Trans-Shipped Sea Fish (Licensing) Order 1982, as amended, prohibit the trans-shipment of pelagic sea fish onto non-fishing vessels within British fishery limits unless the receiving vessel is licensed. For the purposes of this Order pelagic sea fish are defined as mackerel, herring, sprats, pilchards and horse mackerel. Additionally UK fishing vessel licences prohibit the transhipment of any fish between under 10 and over 10 metre vessels.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards inclusion of the issue of fishing quota-capping in the next InterGovernmental Conference.

Elliot Morley: Since 1 January 1999, and with the agreement of the European Commission, all vessels fishing against UK quotas have to maintain a genuine economic link with coastal communities in the UK. We have no plans to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the status of negotiations on the 12 mile derogation, with particular reference to the timescale;
	(2)  what negotiating points have been linked to the 12 mile derogation negotiating parties.

Elliot Morley: A Council Working Group of officials from EU Member States has been meeting in Brussels to consider the Commission's proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. No one has attempted to link the 12 mile derogation to other issues.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the size of the UK fishing workforce (a) within the fleet and (b) in dependent industries.

Elliot Morley: The most recent information available on the numbers of fishermen in the United Kingdom are for the situation in 2000 as drawn from surveys carried out by the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency in Scotland. The survey showed a total of 14,645 fishermen in the UK in 2001.
	It is difficult to estimate the level of employment in dependent industries. This is due to it being difficult to define accurately which industries are involved, and in many cases these industries are not uniquely dependent on the fishing industry. The Department and the Sea Fish Industry Authority are currently jointly carrying out research into the relationship between jobs in fishing and jobs in the rest of the UK economy, with the results expected to be available within the next two to three months.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK fisheries vessels there are in each port of anchorage; and what proportion of them are foreign-owned.

Elliot Morley: At 30 June 2002 there were some 7020 licensed UK fishing vessels. Comprehensive information about the beneficial ownership of UK fishing vessels is no longer maintained. However it is estimated that some 117 vessels are wholly or partly foreign owned. A significant proportion of the fleet is nomadic and it is not practical to break down the above numbers in terms of ports of anchorage.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total tonnage was of the (a) white water and (b) blue water fishing fleet of the UK in (i) 1972, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2002; how many vessels there were; and how many personnel were employed at sea.

Elliot Morley: The information requested, where available, is given in the table below. The white water fleet has been taken as those UK fishing vessels that are 10 metres or less in overall length, with the blue water fleet taken as those UK fishing vessels greater than 10 metres overall length. Data on the numbers of fishermen is not available in terms of type of vessel, only on the basis of those employed full time or part time, which is given in the table.
	Available vessel data for 1972 are not comparable with data for later years. Statistics for the active fleet in 1972 understate the overall size of the fleet; the registered fleet exceeded the active fleet by about 3,000 vessels in 1990 when the earlier statistical series was replaced. Similarly, the basis used to measure the tonnage of vessels in 1972 (Gross Registered Tonnage) is not comparable with that used in later years (Gross Tonnage), and generally results in smaller estimates of the tonnage of vessels.

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by her Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within her Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Alun Michael: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 916W.
	
		
			  1972 1 1997 2002 
		
		
			 Tonnage (at 1st January) 2 , 3 : 
			 Vessels less than 10 metres n/a 20,095 19,768 
			 Vessels greater than 10 metres 278,000 254,390 243,206 
			 Total UK fishing fleet n/a 274,485 262,974 
			 Numbers of vessels (at 1st January) 2 : 
			 Vessels less than 10 metres 3,785 6,091 5,713 
			 Vessels greater than 10 metres 2,286 2,576 2,008 
			 Total UK fishing fleet 6,071 8,667 7,721 
			 Personnel employed at sea during the year 4 : 
			 Full time 17,898 14,832 11,923 
			 Part-time 4,115 3,772 2,722 
			 Total numbers of fishermen 22,013 18,604 14,645 
		
	
	Notes
	1 Estimates for 1st January 1972 relate to the active fishing fleet, while those for 1st January 1997 and 2002 relate to the registered fishing fleet.
	2 Data for 1972 relate to vessels below and above 40ft in length (12.2 metres).
	3 Data for 1997 and 2002 relate to the Gross Tonnage of registered fishing vessels as reported to the European Commission under the Multi Annual Guidance Programme for the structure of the UK fishing fleet. The data available for 1972 related to Gross Registered Tonnage of active fishing vessels, which is not comparable. Data for vessels below 40ft in length are not available.
	4 The information given in the column for 2002 relates the numbers of fishermen in the year 2001.

Refrigerator and Tyre Disposal (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding arrangements have been proposed to deal with disposal in the county of Cambridgeshire of (a) refrigerators and (b) tyres.

Michael Meacher: We have announced a further #40 million for local authorities to cover the costs of fridge disposal this year. This is in addition to #6 million already allocated for the last financial year. It is not possible to provide a meaningful allocation for each authority. It is intended that #40 million will be distributed later this year through the Special Grant system.
	The Landfill Directive is due to ban the disposal of tyres to landfill from mid-2006 by which time alternative ways of handling those tyres currently landfilled will need to be in place. At present 30 per cent. of used tyres are landfilled. However, the Government is supporting a number of research and development studies aimed at developing end markets for used tyre products which should become commercially available before the ban comes into effect. We do not anticipate, therefore, an additional burden on local authorities.

Domestic Energy Efficiency

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the target is for domestic energy efficiency improvements.

Michael Meacher: The UK Climate Change Programme envisages savings of carbon emissions from domestic energy efficiency measures of up to 5 million tonnes a year by 2010.
	The Government has announced its intention to produce a Domestic Energy Efficiency Strategy to ensure delivery of these savings and work on this is being taken forward in the context of the production of the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year. The White Paper will also address the recommendation of the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review that Government develop energy efficiency targets for each sector of the economy, including a 20 per cent. improvement in domestic energy efficiency by 2010.

Domestic Waste

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the total tonnage of domestic waste collected in the last recorded 12 month period.

Michael Meacher: Figures from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey show that in 2000–01, 25,109,000 tonnes of household waste were collected in England.

Farm Tenancies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the agendas and minutes for meetings of the cross-departmental working group in fiscal arrangements for farm tenancies.

Elliot Morley: The Department does not routinely publish minutes of cross departmental meetings such as those held to discuss fiscal measures affecting farm tenancies. Any requests for the release of this information will be dealt with in accordance with the Government's Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, 1997) and the Freedom of Information Act when it comes into force.

Farm Tenancies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the cross-departmental working group on fiscal arrangements for farm tenancies has been established.

Elliot Morley: Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and all parts of the tax system are kept under review as part of the Budget process. Cross departmental discussions on the tenancy related fiscal measures mentioned in the Policy Commission report on the Future of Farming and Food and the Plymouth University Report on the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 have taken place. Further discussions will take place as appropriate prior to the publication of the Government's strategy for sustainable food and farming in the autumn, which will include a full response to the Policy Commission recommendations.

Farm Tenancies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made to allow farm tenants greater flexibility to diversify their income-earning activities on farms that they rent.

Elliot Morley: The report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food recommends that Defra should revisit the definition of agriculture used in tenancy legislation and suggests a broader definition might remove a potential obstacle to business development. The Government is keen to ensure that the legislative framework governing farm tenancy arrangements does not act as a barrier to tenant farmer participation in diversification activities. We are therefore considering this recommendation carefully and the conclusions reached will be made known in the autumn when the Government publishes its strategy for sustainable food and farming, incorporating a response to the Policy Commission's recommendations.

Farm Tenancies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in addressing issues relating to the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, with particular reference to section 4 of that Act.

Elliot Morley: The Plymouth University Report on the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 made a number of recommendations involving section 4 of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995. These recommendations are currently being considered in parallel with the tenancy related recommendations made by the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming. The Government's approach to the recommendations made in both reports will be clarified when the strategy for sustainable food and farming, incorporating the response to the Policy Commission's recommendations is published in the Autumn.

Farming (EU Grants)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of UK farmers received European Community grants of over (a) #100,000 and (b) #500,000 per annum in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of UK farmers received European Union grants of under #10,000 per annum in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what proportion of UK farmers do not receive European Union grants.

Elliot Morley: The following table gives the numbers of addresses in England to which the specified levels of direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been made in the last three years. Earlier figures are not readily available. We cannot estimate precisely the number of farmers who do not receive payments. The payment of CAP grants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved authorities. Farmers may also have received European Union grants under non-agricultural programmes.
	
		
			 CAP Financial Year Addresses to which payment was made of #1 to #99,999#100,000 to #499,999Over #500,000 
		
		
			 1998–1999 63589 61 3 
			 1999–2000 58238 1933 34 
			 2000–2001 63497 1822 29

Farming (EU Grants)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total sum of grants by the European Union to farmers was in (a) the UK and (b) other EU member states in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The United Kingdom received Euro4,058.9 million from the European Union under the Common Agricultural Policy during its 2000 financial year. The other Member States received the following:
	
		
			 Country Euro (millions) 
		
		
			 Austria 1,018.5 
			 Belgium 954.7 
			 Denmark 1,305 
			 Finland 727.5 
			 France 8,982.2 
			 Germany 5,641.7 
			 Greece 2,597.1 
			 Holland 1,396.5 
			 Ireland 1,678.3 
			 Italy 5,031.1 
			 Luxembourg 20.6 
			 Portugal 651.9 
			 Spain 5,469.3 
			 Sweden 798 
		
	
	These figures include both direct aid and market support. Nearly all of the direct aid will have gone to farmers. Much of the market support expenditure will in the first instance have been paid to traders.

Organic Action Plan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she will measure the success of the Organic Action Plan; and what funding is being made available for the introduction of the Organic Action Plan.

Michael Meacher: The Group that drew up the Action Plan and, from April 2003, the Advisory Committee on Organic Food and Farming will draw up and publish detailed criteria for measuring the success of the strategy for developing a sustainable organic food and farming sector in England. Funding for the changes to the Organic farming Scheme to provide for payments for five year agreements and other measures such as marketing, processing and training will come from the England Rural Development Programme. In addition #5m has been set aside over the five years beginning in 2003/2004 for the purpose of providing a grant to the organic industry to support its research priorities through the LINK programme.

Foot and Mouth

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by the Government on foot and mouth preparations and exercises in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

Elliot Morley: Information on the costs of foot and mouth preparations and exercises is not available. The contingency plan for foot and mouth disease approved by the EC includes a requirement that each Animal Health Divisional Office has a local contingency plan. At February 2001, 19 of the 23 divisional plans had been updated in the previous year. In addition, these offices are required to hold at least one simulation exercise and to review staff training on dealing with disease outbreaks each year.

Foot and Mouth

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to vaccinate against a future foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: Routine vaccination to protect against future outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease is currently prohibited in the EU and neither the Royal Society nor the Lessons to be Learned Inquiries recommended it. This was also the view reached by the International Conference on Prevention and Control of FMD, held last December.
	The Government is currently considering the recommendations of the Royal Society and Lessons to be Learned Inquiry Reports into the 2001 outbreak. We will take these recommendations into account when deciding what role vaccination may play in future outbreaks and what future research and development requirements are. These Reports will inform our preparation for discussions in the EU on a new FMD Directive later this year.
	Emergency vaccination during a future outbreak is not ruled out, and it remains an option as part of the disease control strategy. Future scientific advances may allow vaccination a larger role and we are committed to funding research into the use of conventional vaccines to control FMD. We are currently developing more comprehensive contingency plans and field instructions for emergency vaccination and will engage stakeholders in future vaccination discussions.

Foot and Mouth

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department made to the Commonwealth for assistance from veterinary experts during the foot and mouth epidemic.

Elliot Morley: Under the current International Veterinary Reserve Agreement (IVR), participating countries have agreed to provide veterinary assistance in the event of serious notifiable disease. The agreement was initiated in the very early stages of the foot and mouth outbreak. All countries covered by the agreement, some of which are members of the Commonwealth, participated in the eradication of foot and mouth.
	Discussions were also held with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Subsequently, Embassies assisted with the identification of suitable veterinary candidates.
	The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) also wrote to all EU Member States seeking assistance from suitable veterinary staff.

Cameraria Ohridella

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the spread of Cameraria Ohridella; and what action her Department is taking.

Elliot Morley: I indicated in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1198W, that it was considered highly likely that the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (cameraria ohridella) would spread to Britain. In July it was confirmed that the moth is now present in parts of Wimbledon. We have conducted a joint survey of the area and surrounding local Boroughs, and the Forestry Commission has placed baited pheromone traps at selected ports and towns in the south of England. So far the moth appears to be confined to the Wimbledon area but further spread is considered inevitable.
	The Commission has alerted Tree Officers in the London Boroughs and it has distributed its ''Exotic Pest Alert'' publication describing the moth and showing the symptoms to look for. Trees will look unsightly following defoliation by the moth, but they will recover.
	An EU research programme is underway which includes work to try to develop practical control methods. Forestry Commission scientists are in regular contact with the scientists in this programme and are also carrying out their own studies.

Agricultural Workers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department have made of the effect of the Communities Vibrations Directive on working times for the agricultural workforce; if such an analysis was made at the time of initial discussions in the Working Group; what cost-analysis took place prior to final agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive is a health and safety measure which is designed to protect workers from diseases such as vibration white finger and back pain. The Directive was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 21 May 2002. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) took the lead on behalf of the UK Government in negotiating the terms of the Directive.
	The HSE carried out a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) (including a cost/benefit anaysis) as soon as the German Presidency presented the proposal for this Directive in January 1999. The RIA considers the impact of the Directive on UK industry as a whole. This was updated in January 2001 after political agreement was reached in Council. Copies of the RIAs are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The UK has played a leading role in maintaining the Common Position on the terms of the Directive in the face of more restrictive amendments proposed by the European Parliament. As a result the terms of the Directive should allow farm workers to use their tractors for at least 7 to 8 hours each day. Furthermore the provision allowing exposure to Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to be averaged over a 5 day period should allow one or two long days to be offset by low exposure on rest days. In addition the WBV exposure limit value for farmers will not come into effect until 2014—12 years time. The long transitional period should allow equipment design to be improved and old equipment to be replaced.

Plastic Bags

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answers to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 665W, what conclusions she has reached on the assessment of the effect of a plastic shopping bag levy on litter and waste reduction and on consumer behaviour.

Michael Meacher: Work on the plastic bags issue continues within the Department and we are not yet in a position to reach conclusions. Also, the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) has decided to include the plastic bag tax and related issues in its wider review of waste strategy. It will therefore feature in the PIU, report, due out later in the year and the work carried out in the Department will help inform the report.

Organic Produce

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many litres of organic milk were produced in the UK last year.

Michael Meacher: It is estimated that around 200 million litres of organic milk were produced in the UK during the year to end March 2002.

Organic Produce

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many organic producers there were in the UK in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02.

Michael Meacher: As at 31 December 2000 there were 3,563 organic producers in the UK. As at 31 December 2001 there were 3,981.

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what report was made by her official who travelled on board the ship with the sheep which were sent from Dover to the Continent on 15 July; and whether the Dutch authorities have confirmed that the sheep were transported in accordance with the route plan submitted to her Department.

Elliot Morley: The report records that the overall journey was satisfactory and there were no adverse comments in respect of animal welfare. We have taken account of the practical experience gained from this first consignment when considering futher Route Plans.
	The Dutch authorities have reported that the animals were either transported directly for slaughter in France or rested in the Netherlands before transport to slaughter in Italy.

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of the health certification carried out on the three consignments of live sheep exported from Dover to continental Europe on 21 July, how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey; where those sheep were taken; what problems were found in respect of the animals; what action was taken in respect of these problems; and what final destination address was given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Elliot Morley: In respect of the three consignments of sheep exported on 21 July, no animals were rejected on inspection as unfit for their intended journey. The sheep were transported from approved assembly centres in North Wales and Kent via Dover and Holland to three EU approved slaughterhouses in France.

Domestic Waste

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of the domestic waste collection was reused as a raw material in the manufacture of (a) plastic, (b) glass, (c) paper and (d) board in the last recorded 12 month period.

Michael Meacher: This information is not available.

Energy Efficiency

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what external advice she received regarding a duty on her to fund policies and programmes as a result of the requirement for her to have a 30 per cent. improvement in domestic energy efficiency as a principal aim under Part 1 of the Home Energy Conservation Bill; whether this advice suggests it would be within the terms of the Bill to make progress towards improving energy efficiency by (a) introducing new regulations and (b) energy efficiency programmes funded by bodies other than the Government; if she will place the advice in the Library; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what external advice she has received regarding burdens placed on local authorities by Part 1 of the Home Energy Conservation Bill; if she will place this advice in the Library; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what external advice she has received regarding the compatibility of a requirement for her to have a target as a principal aim when making decisions, as included in the Home Energy Conservation Bill and a requirement to meet that target as a statutory duty; if she will place this advice in the Library; and if she will make a statement.
	(4)  when the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire will receive answers to written parliamentary questions 70950, 71005 and 71006, tabled for answer on 19 July.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The Government has not sought any external advice on these matters. However, I am aware that the Bill's promoters sought legal advice on whether having a 30 per cent. improvement as a principal aim would have conferred a lesser obligation than a statutory duty to achieve this level of improvement, and whether it would have imposed any legal requirements on the Government to fund new obligations on local authorities.
	We have received our own advice on the implications of having a 30 per cent. improvement in domestic energy efficiency as a principal aim in this Bill. These implications, including those for the Government and local authorities of any energy efficiency targets that the Secretary of State might set, how targets might be achieved, any constraints this might place on local authorities and the potential role of other energy efficiency programmes, have, of course, been discussed with other Government Departments. The Government is committed to funding fully the cost of any new obligations placed on local authorities, although this is not a legal obligation.
	The Department has also received correspondence setting out a wide range of views on this and other aspects of the Bill, including from the Local Government Association, local authorities, trade associations, energy efficiency and fuel poverty groups and members of he public.

Waste Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the total tonnage of waste was collected for recycling in the last recorded 12 month period; and what proportion of that was from (a) domestic and (b) industrial sources.

Michael Meacher: Figures from the 2000–01 Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey show that for England, the latest tonnages of waste of municipal waste collected for recycling or composting were 3,442,000 tonnes, 2,812,000 of which was from household sources.
	The proportion of household waste that was recycled or composted was 10 per cent.
	Figures from the 1998–99 Environment Agency National Waste Production Survey, the most recent available, show that for England and Wales, 22,100,000 tonnes of industrial waste were recycled or re-used. The proportion of industrial waste recycled or re-used was 44 per cent.

Waste Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much tonnage was collected from segregated domestic waste broken down by (a) paper, (b) plastic, (c) glass and (d) metals in the last recorded 12 month period.

Michael Meacher: Figures from the 2000–01 Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey show that for England, the following segregated household waste were collected for recycling:
	
		
			 Material recycled Tonnages As a percentage of total household waste 
		
		
			 collected 
			 Paper and card 910,000 3.6 
			 Plastics 13,000 0.1 
			 Glass 396,000 1.8 
			 Scrap metal, white goods and cans 336,000 1.3

Waste Recycling

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of collected segregated waste has been (a) landfilled and (b) fly-tipped in the last recorded 12 month period; and what proportion this is of the total waste collected.

Michael Meacher: This information is not available.

Timber

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measurements she uses to monitor the change in levels of use of sustainable timber in public buildings.

Michael Meacher: The Sustainable Development in Government report, which replaces the Greening Government reports and is due in November, is intended to give information on the levels of timber and timber products supplied from legal and sustainably managed sources. The Government's future performance and contribution to sustainable development (including procurement) will now be monitored under the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate—the main vehicle for systematically assessing, managing, reporting and improving performance in operational areas.
	Defra also commissioned consultants in October 2000 to undertake a timber scoping study to help buyers more effectively implement the Government's commitment actively to seek to procure its timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. Their findings are now being considered in the light of the reports published by the Environmental Audit Committee in July and by stakeholders at an open meeting on 2 September. The policy does not extend beyond central Government, but Defra Ministers and officials have been promoting it to the wider public sector.

Timber

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the steps that are taken to ensure that only sustainable timber is used on public projects.

Michael Meacher: Several of the Government's furniture suppliers are switching to certified timber sources as a result of the Government's policy on timber procurement (28 Jul 2000, Official Report, column 947W), the inclusion of these requirements in Departmental contracts and the work of public bodies such as NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. The Office of Government Commerce is reviewing its existing guidance and project management services contracts to draw attention to the Government's policy. Defra has also commissioned consultants to undertake a timber scoping study to help buyers to implement the commitment more effectively. The report on this study addresses, for example, the issue of assessing the credibility of suppliers' claims on the source of the timber supplied and the provision of expert help for buyers. A copy of the scoping study report is on the Tropical Forest Forum's web site. Look in Forum activities/Trade/Timber Trade at http://www.forestforum.org.uk.

Birds

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the change in the numbers of birds; and what steps are being taken to encourage the growth of the songbird population.

Elliot Morley: The Department annually monitors the numbers of a whole range of birds, including songbirds, through the Breeding Bird Survey. This survey, conducted and funded jointly by the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, assesses trends in the numbers of common species of birds across the country. A range of other surveys, funded by these organisations, assesses trends in scarcer species. Annual reports are produced for each of the surveys, but summary information derived from them is contained in the report The State of the UK's Birds 2001, which was published on 7 August.
	It revealed:
	Long term trends show that approximately 34 bird species including the buzzard, sparrowhawk, green woodpecker and the blue tit have increased between 1970 and 1999.
	Most species of common bird have shown short term increases between 1994 and 2000.
	The report also showed that over the period 1970 to 1999 19 species, including the marsh tit, have declined by more than 50 per cent.
	Twelve further species have showed a moderate decline of between 25 and 49 per cent., including the dunnock and the lapwing.
	Steps are being taken to encourage a growth in songbird numbers through
	Biodiversity Action Plans, for species such as Skylark, Stone Curlew, Nightjar, Corn Bunting, and Song Thrush;
	Agri-environment schemes, which are currently being reviewed: these provide significant funding for promoting environmentally sustainable farming practices; more than #1 billion has been made available for the seven-year period 2000 to 2007.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the regulatory burdens that would arise from the implementation of European Commission Draft Instrument 7396/02, dated 21 March 2002, concerning the control of high-activity sealed sources; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the regulatory impact assessment in the Library.

Michael Meacher: The European Commission has made a proposal for a Council Directive on the control of high activity sealed radioactive sources, which is under discussion in Council working group. The department is currently carrying out an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment to gauge the potential costs and benefits of implementing the current draft of the Directive. This is expected to be ready in the autumn and will be provided to the European Scrutiny Committee. I shall also place a copy in the Library.

Horticulture Research International

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the future financing of Horticulture Research International.

Elliot Morley: Horticulture Research International (HRI) is undergoing a Quinquennial Review of its performance, organisational status and relationship with Defra. The Review Team's report was published on 23 September. Stakeholders have been invited to provide comments on the report by 18 November before Ministers take final decisions about HRI's future, including its funding arrangements. These decisions will also be informed by further analysis of the financial implications of implementing the Review Team's recommendations.

Countryside Agency

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken to ensure that the Countryside Agency's rural proofing checklist (a) is available to Government Departments and (b) informs policy decisions.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency's rural proofing checklist was launched in April 2001. At the time it was published in hard copy as well as published on the Countryside Agency's website. Copies were circulated round all Government departments, and promoted throughout departments by the Countryside Agency and staff in departments themselves. This is an ongoing process, with continuing liaison between Government departments and both the Countryside Agency and the Department. The Countryside Agency is currently revising the checklist and this will be published shortly, with a further promotion across Government.
	The ongoing process of monitoring and evaluation that leads to the publication of the Countryside Agency's annual reports on rural proofing is the principal way to ensure that the checklist is used to inform policy decisions, and leads to rural solutions and outcomes. The continuing close liaison mentioned above also keeps the checklist at the front of policy makers minds, and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Rural Renewal discusses such issues regularly.

French Beef

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 23 July 2002, ref 70633, if she has applied to the European Court to intervene in the case.

Elliot Morley: Once the Commission has lodged the case with the European Court of Justice, the Court will invite member states to apply to intervene. This stage has not yet been reached.

NFU

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has (a) received from and (b) made to the NFU; what was discussed; and when the next meeting will take place.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, along with other members of her Ministerial team, have regular contact with the NFU to discuss a wide range of issues.

Curry Report

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which Curry Commission recommendations will be implemented;
	(2)  what percentage of her budget increase will be spent on the implementation of the Curry Commission's report;
	(3)  when she will outline the new strategy for sustainable food and farming in England;
	(4)  what specific reforms in line with the Curry report she estimates will be made possible by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 26 March a series of early actions as a first step towards implementing the Policy Commission's report. A new Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food in England will be launched in the autumn. This will incorporate a response to all of the Policy Commission's recommendations and include details of a range of policy measures.
	The recent Spending Review settlement demonstrates the Government's commitment to delivering on the vision identified in the report, providing the resources to address the Commission's core recommendations, including those aimed at improving the competitiveness of farming and the food chain and enhancing the ability of farming to deliver environmental benefits.
	From our increased post-Spending Review budget of around #2.8bn p.a., more than #500m will be made available for investment in sustainable farming and food over the three years of the Spending Review. This includes an increase of #200m in 2005–06, which will allow full roll-out of an entry-level agri-environment scheme in that year, following successful pilots.

Dairy Industry

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to support the dairy industry.

Elliot Morley: The dairy sector is supported at a European level by the Common Organisation of the Market for Milk and Milk Products. Recognising the difficulties caused for many dairy farmers by the current low price of milk, the Government has worked within this framework to back measures taken in Brussels to support EU Markets and encourage exports.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the negotiations between the Government and outside contractors regarding the backlog of cattle TB testing.

Elliot Morley: TB testing is carried out by the State Veterinary Service (including Local Veterinary Inspectors); there are no plans to change these arrangements. Contractors are being employed to help with the survey of badgers killed in road traffic accidents and negotiations are continuing with contractors over reducing the backlog in ''TB99'' epidemiological questionnaires.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the total cost has been of Bovine TB testing delays to farmers.

Elliot Morley: A formal assessment of the cost to the farming industry of the delays in testing for bovine TB has not been carried out.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to pay more than market value for cattle compulsorily slaughtered under TB control measures.

Elliot Morley: There are no plans to pay more than the market value for cattle compulsorily slaughtered under TB control measures.

Bovine TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost analysis has been undertaken to assess how much the delays in testing for Bovine TB have cost the farming industry.

Elliot Morley: A formal assessment of the cost to the farming industry of the delays in testing for bovine TB has not been carried out.

Farming and Food Commission

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food; and what progress they have made since their formation.

Elliot Morley: The Policy Commisison on the Future of Farming and Food was set up in August 2001 to advise the Government on the creation of a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector in England. The Policy Commission presented its report to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State in January 2002, after which its work ceased. The Government welcomed the report, supported its broad analysis and conclusions and will publish a response in Autumn in the context of a new strategy for sustainable farming and food.

Agricultural Development Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the eligibility requirements are of the Agricultural Development Scheme; and what will be the number and value of the grants distributed.

Elliot Morley: The eligiblity criteria are set out in the guidance notes for the scheme. In summary, projects must concern the organisation, promotion, encouragement, development, co-ordination or facilitation of the marketing of produce and not be eligible for aid under another grant scheme. Only non-capital expenditure can be grant aided, up to a maximum grant of #0.5m and a maximum grant rate of 50 per cent. Grant can only be awarded for ''additional'' activities (i.e. the applicant must demonstrate that the project would not take place without grant—or would only proceed on a significantly smaller of slower scale).
	The number and value of grants will be decided in the light of the quality of applications received and the resources available, within the overall limits on individual projects summarised above. The resources available will be determined as part of our planned strategy for sustainable food and farming.

Agricultural Development Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the priorities are of the new Agricultural Development Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The priorities for the Agricultural Development Scheme are:
	Co-operation/ collaboration benefiting primary producers;
	Benchmarking and spread of best practice;
	Assurance schemes; and
	Projects opening up new markets, for example, using crops for raw materials for industry.
	Other projects will also be considered

Radioactive Materials

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the European Council Resolution 2002/C119/05 on the establishment of national systems for surveillance and control of the presence of radioactive materials in the recycling of metallic materials in member states, in respect of its application to the United Kingdom.

Michael Meacher: Most of the Resolution's proposals are already covered by existing UK legislation, including the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (as amended) and the lonising Radiations Regulations 1999. Many of the measures proposed in the Resolution are mirrored in the draft Euratom High Activity Sealed Sources Directive, which is currently being negotiated.
	The UK INTERPOL Environmental Crime (Radioactive Substances) Sub-Group (UKIECG), which is chaired by the Environment Agency, addresses the issue of illicit trafficking of ''orphan'' radioactive sources. The Environment Agency is also working closely with the metals recycling industry and with regulators in other countries on the issues covered by the Resolution.

Radioactive Materials

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level radioactive material was in storage in each year from 1973 to date.

Michael Meacher: The information requested requires the interrogation of several past UK Radioactive Waste Inventories and I will write to the hon. Member with the details in due course.

Nuclear Waste

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) the nuclear industry and (b) other departments regarding the safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Michael Meacher: In a letter sent to all MPs on 29 July, my right hon. Friend, announced the results of the recent consultation on radioactive waste management and set out the next steps of the programme, including a review of all management options for intermediate and high level waste.
	With this in mind, the Department plans to continue its frequent meetings with relevant stakeholders and interested parties, including the NGO's, technical and scientific experts, public engagement specialists and industry representatives, to discuss the issues at hand. This continual input, together with the information gathered from the four research projects that were run during the consultation period (which all involved a wide range of contacts, including stakeholders and the general public), should help formulate a successful programme.
	The Department is also in daily contact with other Government Departments and the devolved administrations on this issue.

Carcase Burial Site, Petrockstowe

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will state, in relation to the carcass burial site at Ash Moor, Petrockstowe, (a) what the level of water table is below the surface of the land and (b) whether a microbiological study has been conducted into the use of the land for the burial of animal carcasses; if she will publish the environmental impact and risk assessments for the site and list the recommendations they made; which legal requirements were complied with before construction of the site started; what has been (i) the cost of work to date and (ii) the continuing cost of upkeep; what additional cost will be incurred if the site is brought into use for the burial of animal carcasses; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 29 October 2001
	pursuant to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torridge & West Devon on 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 301W. My answer referred to EA authorisation under regulation 18(3)(a) of the Groundwater Regulations 1998 granted on 12 April 2001. (construction at Ash Moor started on 20 April 2001). This was incorrect. The construction at Ash Moor started on 9 April 2001. The rest of the Answer remains correct.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 12 June, concerning drugs and the broiler chicken.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 July 2002
	I responded to the honourable member on 15 September.

TREASURY

E-Government

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a progress report on the Customs and Excise interactive data input and editing system for traders and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The business requirement for an interactive data input and editing system has been included within the scope of the HM Customs and Excise e-Business Programme, to simplify the current technology and business processes. It represents better value for money for government while ensuring that businesses, including those involved in intra-Community trade, are offered simpler and more convenient ways to transact.
	Intrastat Supplementary Returns can already be filed electronically and the new, flexible infrastructure will include technology to improve risk-based assurance of data and reduce the costs of compliance to a whole range of businesses. This will ensure that Customs and Excise is more responsive, agile and better able to meet its customers' needs.

E-Government

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish outturn figures for the pilot system for VAT declarations over the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The pilot system for making VAT declarations over the Internet ran from March 2000 to April 2001. Around 1,100 businesses used the service out of 2,500 businesses invited to do so.
	The electronic VAT return (EVR) system went live in April 2001. Around 400 of those on the pilot system joined the live system. There are currently 4,250 businesses registered to use EVR. Of these approximately 2,700 actually use it.

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what evidence was presented by Customs and Excise officials to the Bank of England on 19 September 1988 that Manuel Noriega had been using the Bank of Credit and Commerce International to launder money;
	(2)  if he will disclose the names of those officials attending a working lunch on 19 September 1988 between Customs and Excise and Treasury officials; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information relating to matters which are currently the subject of, or directly connected with, court proceedings are exempt from disclosure under Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Global Poverty

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what progress was made on tackling global poverty at the recent G8 summit;
	(2)  what progress is being made through the World Bank and the IMF in tackling (a) global poverty and (b) land reform in developing countries.

John Healey: At the G8 Summit, in June, progress was made towards a more coherent approach to tackling global poverty. In particular, members welcomed the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The G8 undertook to establish enhanced partnerships with African countries whose performance reflects the NEPAD commitments. This will focus efforts on countries that demonstrate a political and financial commitment to good governance and the rule of law, investing in their people, and pursuing policies that spur economic growth and alleviate poverty. The G8 will match African countries' commitment by promoting peace and security in Africa, boosting expertise and capacity, encouraging trade and direct growth-oriented investment, and providing more effective official development assistance. In addition, the G7 agreed in June to contribute their share of an extra $1 billion to finance the shortfall in the HIPC initiative.
	At the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in September, further progress was made. In particular, the IMF reaffirmed its role in helping poor countries address the challenge of meeting the Millennium Development Goals by supporting economic reforms aimed at accelerating growth and reducing poverty. The Fund recognised that there may be a need to consider mobilising new resources if high demand for concessional financing continues, and stressed the importance of sound macroeconomic frameworks that can respond flexibly to changes in the external environment; identifying ways to encourage higher and sustainable growth; good governance; improving public expenditure and financial management systems; and using poverty and social impact analysis more systematically, and building country capacity in this area. In addition, the Bank and Fund reaffirmed the commitment to implement the HIPC initiative and finance it fully to help countries overcome the burden of unsustainable debt.
	At the Development Committee meeting of the World Bank, commitments were made towards better coordination and cooperation amongst development partners and by effective alignment of donor support with country strategies. Members recognised the need for more intensified efforts to harmonise operational policies and procedures of bilateral and multilateral agencies, at both institutional and country levels, to enhance aid effectiveness and promote greater ownership by developing countries. The Bank and other donors committed to further action in streamlining their policies, procedures and requirements over the period leading to the high-level forum scheduled in Rome in February 2003 and beyond. Members also requested the Bank and Fund to report back to them at next year's Spring Meetings on pragmatic and innovative ways to enhance the participation of developing countries in international institutions, and thereby to strengthen international dialogue.
	Improving tenure security and access to land through appropriate land reform is a key element of the World Bank's Rural Development Strategy. Secure tenure and shelter for the poor are also important components of the Bank's urban programmes. The Bank is supporting land reforms in Latin America; throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; and in Asia, efforts appear to have been generally most effective in relation to poverty reduction. The Bank is preparing to re-engage with land reform in Africa (Ghana, Malawi, Niger, South Africa and Uganda).
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is actively engaged with the World Bank in Africa to improve the effectiveness of Bank operations in land reform. In the other regions DFID seeks to support and improve the impact of World Bank interventions at policy level and through complementary support to development partners. The Bank is in the final stages of completing a major review of its work on land reform, to be captured in a Policy Research Report. DFID have contributed to the process, seeking to strengthen the linkage of Bank lending for land reform with improved livelihood opportunities for the poor and with nationally owned poverty reduction strategies.

Early Leavers

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with other departments on reducing (a) its level of early retirements and (b) the number of people leaving early on sickness or ill health grounds.

Paul Boateng: (a) There has been no discussion with departments about reducing early retirements or ill-health retirement for the various public service groups. However, a recommendation in the report of the Treasury led review of ill-health retirement in the Public Sector (published in July 2000) was that high level targets should be set challenging employers to reduce ill health retirement by 2005 to a level consistent with or better than those at present achieved by the best quartile of employers.
	(b) There is no centrally held data about people leaving early on sickness or ill health grounds. The monitoring of people leaving early on sickness or ill health grounds is a matter for the sponsor departments of the various public service groups.

Commemorative Coins

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans Her Majesty's Government have for the issue of commemorative coins next year.

Gordon Brown: Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation that the following commemorative coins should be issued in 2003:
	a crown piece of five pounds face value to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her Coronation;
	a two-pound coin to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA;
	a fifty pence coin to mark the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union.
	Collector versions of these coins will be released early next year at a premium above face value and, during the course of the year, the coins will be also become available at face value from banks and post offices.

Financial Services Authority

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the performance and role of the Financial Services Authority over the last 12 months.

Ruth Kelly: The FSA is obliged under the terms of the Financial Services and Markets Act (2001) to produce an annual report assessing performance against its statutory objectives of maintaining confidence in the financial system, promoting public understanding of the financial system, securing an appropriate degree of protection for consumers and reducing the potential for financial firms to be used for financial crime. It is through this mechanism that the FSA is primarily held accountable to Ministers and Parliament.
	The annual report for 2001/02 was published on 20 June 2002 (I refer you to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Ms. Follett) 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 454W) and Section 6 reports on performance against the statutory objectives. Copies of the report were supplied to the Treasury Committee and copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Financial Services Authority

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2002 Official Report, column 447W, if he will set out the Financial Services Authority's proposed powers post-2004 in relation to the regulation of mortgages and general insurances.

Ruth Kelly: On mortgages, the Government published proposed powers for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on 8 August. These can be obtained from the Treasury website www.hm—treasury.gov.uk. The Government will shortly be publishing for consultation draft legislation setting out FSA powers in respect of general insurance mediation.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology was used to determine the targets in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: The methodologies used varied between departments and targets.

Liabilities Insurance

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government assistance is available to companies that find it difficult to get affordable liabilities insurance.

Ruth Kelly: The Government is working with trade associations, insurance bodies and organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses to try and maximise the availability of affordable cover.
	The key to securing affordable liability insurance over time will be improving the risks posed by companies—particularly in terms of health and safety for employees and the public.

Child Poverty

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sectors in combining the effort to end child poverty;
	(2)  what progress has been made on the commitment to end child poverty; what resources have been devoted to this commitment; and what achievements have been made;
	(3)  what plans he has to introduce standards against which the progress of the policies to end child poverty can be measured.

Dawn Primarolo: The government has made a commitment to reduce the number of children in low-income households by at least a quarter by 2004, as a contribution towards the broader target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020. (''Low income'' is defined as having an equivalised household income of less than 60 per cent. of median income).
	Progress will be reported against the 1998–99 baseline figures of 4.2m children after housing costs and 3.1m children before housing costs. Between 1997–98 and 2000–01 the number of children in low-income households fell by 300,000 after housing costs and by 400,000 before housing costs. So we are a third of the way in a third of the time towards meeting the 2004 target.
	By April 2003 the government will be spending #8 billion more on support for children each year, in real terms, than in 1997.
	Low income is of course central to poverty. But poverty of opportunity is also important. In Opportunity for All, the government's annual anti-poverty report, we report progress in tackling poverty and social exclusion against a range of indicators. In April 2002 the Department for Work and Pensions launched a consultation exercise to debate the best way to measure poverty in the long-term. Academics and representatives from the voluntary and community sectors and local government all actively engaged in the debate. Results of the consultation will be published after a full analysis of the responses and technical implications.
	In working towards the common goal of eradicating child poverty within a generation, my right hon. Friend has had numerous discussions with representatives from all sectors. Only through a genuine partnership can we ensure that children and young people are given every opportunity to progress in life.
	Our strategy document, Tackling child poverty—giving every child the best possible start in life, stresses the importance of voluntary organisations in the pursuit of our long-term goal of poverty eradication. The Chancellor also meets ministers from the devolved administrations to consider joint or coordinated action, and exchange information and best practice in tackling child poverty and social exclusion in deprived communities. And the Government is pursuing contacts with the financial sector in efforts to tackle financial exclusion.

Pension Tax Reliefs

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent annual cost was in tax forgone of superannuation and other pension tax reliefs; and what proportion of this was to the benefit of higher-rate taxpayers.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the cost of tax relief on pension contributions are contained in table 7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version is on the Inland Revenue website:
	http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/pensions/p—t09—1.htm
	Of the estimated #6.4bn relief on contributions by employees and the self employed in 2001–02 around #3.7bn is in respect of higher rate taxpayers and on employer contributions of the total of #9.5bn around #5.4bn is in respect of higher rate employees.
	The employers' component is estimated on the basis that under present arrangements, employer contributions are not taxable as a benefit in kind of the employees. The estimates assume that the proportion of total employers' contributions relating to higher rate taxpayers is the same as that observed for employee contributions. It is not possible to apportion the other elements of the total cost of tax relief between higher rate taxpayers and others.
	Estimates are provisional and based on the Survey of Personal Incomes 1999–2000.

Benefits in Kind

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield of extending the base of employees' national insurance contributions to benefits in kind; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Replacing the Class 1A National Insurance contributions liability paid by employers on benefits in kind, with a Class 1 liability paid by employees and employers would raise around #150 million for 2002–03, rising to #150 million for 2003–04. These estimates do not make any allowance for changes in behaviour.

PEPs

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the total annual cost to PEP investors of the reduction in the dividend tax credit in April 1999 in each subsequent financial year;
	(2)  how many (a) general and (b) single company PEP plans were in existence in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02; and how many UK individuals had investments in PEPs in each year;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the average annual cost to (a) each PEP plan and (b) each PEP investor of the reduction in the dividend tax credit to PEPs in April 1999 in the financial years (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02.

Dawn Primarolo: In respect of PEPs, the reduction in the rate of the dividend tax credit is estimated to have saved around #200m in each of the years 1999–00 to 2001–02. Reliable estimates of the number of plans and UK individuals holding plans, and hence of the average cost, are not available from adminstrative data.

Tobacco

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target Customs and Excise has set for illicit market share in the tobacco market by 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Customs aim to reduce the market share of smuggled cigarettes to 20 per cent. by 2003–04. This target was published in the Tackling Tobacco Strategy in March 2000, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House and in Customs' Public Service Agreement for 2001 to 2004.
	Customs' aim is to reduce the market share of smuggled cigarettes to 17 per cent. by 2005–06. This target has been published in Customs' Public Service Agreement for 2003 to 2006.

VAT Fraud

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the National Audit Office will be invited to review the methodology for calculating VAT missing trader fraud; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The NAO commented on the steps that Customs have taken to measure the stock of fraud in their Audit of HM Customs & Excise under Section 2 of the Exchequer & Audit Departments Act 1921 which was published on 13 February 2002. Discussions about the approach and timing of a specific review of the methodology for calculating VAT missing trader fraud are underway.

VAT Fraud

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many suspect VAT registrations have been refused under the programme to counter VAT missing trader fraud; how many missing trader registrations have been identified and cancelled since August 2001; what the value is of total injunctions secured since August 2001 against missing traders; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will provide an update of his November 2001 estimate of the cost of VAT missing trader fraud; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the (a) percentage and (b) absolute reduction in VAT missing trader fraud since September 2000; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Details of the size of this form of fraud and operational activities to tackle it were first set out in the ''Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud'' document published at the time of the November 2001 Pre Budget Report, and will be updated on a routine annual basis in line with the commitments made in that document.

Mapeley Steps Ltd

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the financial benefits accruing to the Inland Revenue as a result of the tax status of Mapeley Steps Ltd;
	(2)  what revenue the Treasury has received as a result of the decision to sell Inland Revenue buildings to Mapeley Steps Ltd and what was the value of alternative bids received;
	(3)  when (a) he and (b) the Paymaster General were informed of the decision to sell Inland Revenue buildings to Mapeley Steps Limited; and when he was informed of the announcement by the Inland Revenue that the company was based in Britain.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise ''STEPS'' competition was announced in August 1998. The two Departments' contract with the Mapeley consortium was signed on 6 March 2001 after a full procurement exercise.
	A joint Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise press release dated 9 March 2001 inadvertently referred to assets being transferred to Mapeley Ltd, a UK registered company, rather than Mapeley STEPS Ltd which is registered in Bermuda. Subsequently, a separate press statement has corrected this. Ministers were not aware of the registration of Mapeley STEPS Ltd at the time of the March 2001 press notice.
	The STEPS contract with the Mapeley consortium provided for the payment of #220 million to the Departments together with a further #150 million to be reflected in lower service prices. Details of the rival bids are, as is customary, commercially confidential. However, the competition to establish which bidder offered best value for money included rigorous examination of all factors relevant under the appropriate UK and European rules. By convention, the tax affairs of individual companies are not disclosed to Ministers. No separate assessment has been made of the effect of the tax status of Mapeley STEPS Ltd.

Strikes

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if she will state the (a) number and (b) percentage of days lost to strike action in the (i) private sector and (ii) public sector in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tim Yeo, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of days lost due to industrial action in the private and public sector each year since 1997. (74385)
	There are no statistics specifically for the public sector but figures on the public administration; education and health industries provide most of the information on the public sector as it is today. In the table below the data for these sectors Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 75, 80 and 85 are presented alongside data for the rest of the economy.
	
		Working days lost due to UK labour disputes
		
			  Public administration education and health industries SIC 75, 80, 85 Rest of Economy 
			  No of days lost 000's % of total days lost No of days lost 000's % of total days lost 
		
		
			 1997 65 28 170 72 
			 1998 50 18 232 82 
			 1999 66 27 176 73 
			 2000 221 44 278 56 
			 2001 331 63 194 37

Employment (Scotland)

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were estimated to be (a) employed and (b) unemployed in (i) Paisley North, (ii) Renfrewshire and (iii) Scotland in each of the last two years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Irene Adams, dated 15 July 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment and unemployment in Scotland. (73671)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for employment and unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. For parliamentary constituencies, the LFS provides estimates of employment and unemployment rates, but not levels. However, the survey sample size is too small to provide reliable estimates of unemployment for Renfrewshire Unitary Authority or Paisley North constituency.
	The ONS also compiles statistics of claimants of unemployment-related benefits. The claimant count consists of all people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits at Employment Service local offices. They must declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work during the week in which the claim is made.
	The attached tables give information from the LFS and claimant count. Labour market statistics are published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release and on the Nomish database, both of which are available in the House of Commons library.
	
		Table 1 Employment and ILO unemployment in Scotland; all aged 16 and over -- Thousands, seasonally adjusted
		
			  In employment ILO unemployed 
		
		
			 March to May 2001 2,396 148 
			 March to May 2002 2,388 176 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2 Employment rates 1  for Scotland; Renfrewshire and Paisley North; all people of working age 2 ; 1999/00 and 2000/01 -- Per cent
		
			  Scotland Renfrewshire Paisley North 
		
		
			 Year ending 
			 February 2000 71.3 74.5 71.8 
			 Year ending 
			 February 2001 73.1 75.4 63.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Total employed of working age as a percentage of all persons of working age.
	2 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey Local Area Database
	
		Table 3 Claimant count levels for Scotland; Renfrewshire and Paisley North -- Not seasonally adjusted
		
			  Scotland 1  Renfrewshire Paisley North 
		
		
			 June 2001 104,600 3,745 1,572 
			 June 2002 102,700 3,774 1,596 
		
	
	Note:
	1 Data for Scotland are seasonally adjusted.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

Public Service Agreements

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the data on (a) outputs and (b) resources underlying the report in the Customs and Excise Spring 2002 report (Cm 5427) on PSA 2000 target; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have done so.

Death Certificates

David Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy for the time of death to appear on death certificates.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Heath, dated 15 September 2002
	As National Statistician and Registrar General, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the time of death appearing on death certificates. (73419)
	Generally, it would not be possible to record the time of death on death certificates accurately. In many cases the doctor who certifies the death may not be with his patient when they die and therefore would not know the specific time of death. The relative who registers the death also may not be able to say precisely when the death occurred.

Death Certificates

David Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require practitioners completing death certificates to include illnesses for which there is medical evidence rather than clinical suspicion.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Heath, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the requirements of medical practitioners completing death certificates to include illnesses for which there is medical evidence rather than clinical suspicion. (73420)
	Medical practitioners are required to certify the cause of death for patients under their care. Current legislation requires them to ''sign the certificate in the prescribed form stating to the best of his/her knowledge and belief the cause of death''. Guidance issued to doctors asks that they describe the cause of death as fully and accurately as possible. They should describe the sequence of diseases or injuries which led to the death, and other conditions which may have contributed to it. These guidance notes follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
	There is considerable interest in death certification at present. The Fundamental Review of the Coroner Service has recently published a consultation document on possible changes to the way in which deaths should be investigated and certified. This can be found at http://www.coronersreview.org.uk/, or a paper copy requested from The Review of Coroner Services, 100 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HP. The closing date for responses is 22 November 2002. In addition, the Office for National Statistics will be consulting on modernisation of the civil registration system during 2003. Any future changes to death registration will also need to consider the recommendations that will come out of the Shipman Inquiry.

Death Certificates

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many transsexual people have applied to have their birth certificates changed since the European Court of Human Rights ruling on 11 July on the case of Goodwin and I v. UK.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 15 September 2002
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of transsexual people who have applied to have their birth certificates altered following the ECHR ruling in the case of Goodwin and I v. UK. I am replying in his absence. (73917)
	The number of applications received at the end of September is 101. This excludes 2 requests from people born in Scotland which were referred to the Registrar General for Scotland.

Customs and Excise Reviews

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he expects to complete Her Majesty's Customs and Excise reviews of the compliance costs of (a) excise gambling regimes, (b) customs procedures for international trade, (c) hydrocarbon oils, (d) alcohol duties and (e) tobacco duties; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Work on the studies into the compliance costs of excise duties and international trade is not complete yet. The findings will be considered and used to formulate future policies and procedures when they become available.

Bank of England

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the legal consequences of the vacancy for the deputy governorship of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: There were no legal consequences of the brief vacancy for the post of Deputy Governor for Financial Stability.

Inheritance Tax

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of the inheritance tax cultural exemption scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: About #8m in 2001–02, including the value of objects accepted in lieu of tax and net of relief clawed back which was previously given under inheritance tax or its predecessors.

Drugs

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total quantity of Class A drugs targeted on the UK for financial year 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The National Criminal Intelligence Service United Kingdom Threat Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2002, estimates that in the region of 30 metric tonnes of heroin and up to 40 metric tonnes of cocaine are smuggled into the UK each year. There are no estimates for other Class A drugs such as ecstasy.

Drugs

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the results of the research programme on the dynamics of the UK and international drugs market undertaken by Customs and Excise in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: This research programme resulted in a number of confidential threat assessments which are covered by Exemption 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and it would not be appropriate to publish them. To the extent that the information is publishable it is contained in the National Criminal Intelligence Service Threat Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2002, to which HM Customs and Excise contributed. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions (a) ministers and (b) Treasury officials have met Mr. Patrick Butcher, former Finance Director of London Underground, since 1997; and what was discussed at each meeting.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers and officials meet a wide variety of people to discuss a wide range of issues.

Earnings Statistics

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual salary was, broken down by region and industry in the last 12 months.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Bill Wiggin, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the average annual salary by region and industry. (73963)
	The New Earnings Survey (NES) provides earnings data for Great Britain for full-time employees on adult rates of pay. The attached table shows the average annual earnings by region and industry for April 2001, the latest date for which figures are available.
	
		Gross Average Annual Earnings of full time employees on adult rates who have been in the same job for more than 12 months
		
			 Region of workplace Agriculture, hunting and forestry Fishing Mining and quarrying Manufacturing Electricity, gas and water supply Construction Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods Hotels and restaurants Transport, storage and communication 
		
		
			  (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) 
			 North East .. .. .. 20,546 26,671 19,511 16,154 .. 19,761 
			 North West .. .. .. 22,168 25,636 21,477 18,583 13,504 20,650 
			 Yorkshire and the 
			 Humber .. .. .. 21,035 24,908 21,556 18,563 .. 18,822 
			 East Midlands 16,038 .. .. 20,853 .. 21,155 19,731 .. 19,110 
			 West Midlands .. .. .. 20,718 .. .. .. .. 20,138 
			 South West .. .. .. 22,488 .. 21,136 18,199 12,045 20,563 
			 East 16,111 .. .. 24,404 .. 24,980 20,454 .. 23,134 
			 London .. .. .. 30,219 .. 29,657 24,394 18,681 30,225 
			 South East 16,256 .. .. 26,272 27,466 24,012 24,295 17,164 23,705 
			 England 15,984 .. 27,767 22,872 28,214 23,171 20,897 15,967 23,240 
			 Wales .. .. .. 20,271 .. 19,585 16,243 .. 19,018 
			 Scotland 15,371 .. .. 21,179 25,229 21,813 17,586 12,814 20,293. 
			 Great Britain 15,805 .. 30,599 22,632 27,827 22,909 20,455 15,515 22,906 
		
	
	
		
			 Region of workplace Financial intermediation Real estate, renting and business activities Public administration and defence; compulsory social security Education Health and social work Other community, social and personal service activities Private households with employed persons Extra- territorial organisations and bodies 
		
		
			  (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) 
			 North East .. 21,138 19,808 19,992 19,024 .. .. .. 
			 North West 23,773 24,590 20,610 20,972 19,519 .. .. .. 
			 Yorkshire and the 
			 Humber 25,501 20,935 21,496 21,125 20,323 17,326 .. .. 
			 East Midlands 24,025 23,114 21,213 21,504 19,595 16,896 .. .. 
			 West Midlands 25,830 26,353 22,292 21,472 20,477 .. .. .. 
			 South West 27,059 22,927 21,702 21,454 18,608 17,894 .. .. 
			 East 24,712 26,107 22,401 23,066 20,070 19,439 .. .. 
			 London .. 39,293 25,633 25,979 24,248 31,442 .. .. 
			 South East 29,998 29,717 22,731 22,854 20,183 .. .. .. 
			 England 41,943 28,878 22,291 22,299 20,425 22,860 .. .. 
			 Wales .. .. 21,073 21,135 19,781 17,354 .. .. 
			 Scotland 26,069 23,712 21,168 21,001 20,226 .. .. .. 
			 Great Britain 39,861 28,223 22,050 22,094 20,364 22,560 .. .. 
		
	
	Note:
	''..'' denotes the data has been suppressed in line with NES publication criteria.
	Source:
	New Earnings Survey, April 2001

Endowment Policies

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints of mis-selling of endowment policies by independent financial advisers have been made to the FSA in the last three years.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 17 July 2002, Official Report, columns 335–336W to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir).

Endowment Policies

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the proportion of people with endowment mortgages who have policies which are unlikely to pay the original sum borrowed.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 707W to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. Lucas).

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the tax credit advertising campaign outlined in the Treasury press release dated 16 September is expected to cost, broken down into the costs of each element of the campaign.

Dawn Primarolo: On 16 September the Inland Revenue launched a multi-media campaign to raise awareness of the changes to tax credits. This advertising campaign aims to encourage claimants of the existing tax credits and potential new claimants to make an application for Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or both. The advertising in this launch phase is expected to run until March 2003.
	
		Expenditure on advertising is currently estimated to be as follows
		
			  
		
		
			 Television <#6 million 
			 Radio <#0.7 million 
			 Press <#2 million 
			 Online <#0.3 million 
			  
			 Total #9million 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are inclusive of VAT
	Other elements of the campaign include direct mailings to existing tax credits claimants, and a response line set up to handle telephone calls prompted by the advertising. The final cost will depend on the number of reminders issued and the demand for the response line.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which tax credit application forms (a) are available on the internet for download and (b) can be filled in on a computer screen; and how many electronic application forms have been submitted over the internet for each relevant tax credit during the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: Claim forms and guidance notes for the Children's Tax Credit can be downloaded from the Inland Revenue's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.
	For the new Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, people can find out whether they qualify, get a detailed calculation and claim online at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the new tax credit claim pack being sent to existing WFTC/DPTC and children's tax credit claimants and (b) other information available to prospective claimants, including leaflets NTC/1 and NTC/2.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue began issuing claim packs to existing recipients of Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit in mid August. The pack contains six separate items;
	A covering letter
	The Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Claim form
	The notes to accompany the form
	A publicity insert giving an overview of the timing and the process of making a claim
	A leaflet from the Financial Services authority giving advice on bank accounts
	A pre-paid return envelope
	Other information for prospective claimants is as follows
	Web-site
	Comprehensive information is available on the Internet at www.inland revenue.gov.uk/taxcredits.
	Leaflets and Posters
	An introductory leaflet which sets out basic information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit will be made available to prospective claimants. This will be followed by a more detailed leaflet. Leaflets will be produced in Welsh and will be available in large print, audio and Braille. Summary information will also be made available in Bengali, Cantonese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese.
	A range of A3 posters, one of which will be available in the languages above, are available to raise awareness of the changes and to promote some of the elements of tax credits, for example, help with childcare costs.
	Information packs have been sent to individual members of the House of Commons, The Scottish Parliament and the devolved assemblies. Copies of the claim pack, the information pack the leaflets and posters will be placed in the Library.

Paisley, North

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are benefiting from (a) working families tax credits and (b) children's tax credits in Paisley, North.

Dawn Primarolo: For the number in receipt of the working families' tax credit, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W. Information about the children's tax credit (CTC) is not available by constituency. However, the number of families eligible for the CTC in Scotland is estimated to be 400,000.

Paisley, North

Irene Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of this Department's measures to tackle poverty in Paisley, North.

Dawn Primarolo: Poverty is a complex multi-dimensional issue, affecting many aspects of children's lives—including income, health, housing, the quality of their environment and opportunities to learn. There is therefore no single measure of the number of families with children that have moved out of poverty in the Paisley North constituency.
	However, it is possible to provide figures for take-up of some measures aimed at those on low-incomes for which my Right Honourable friend's departments are responsible. In February 2002 there were 1,888 Working Families Tax Credit recipients in Paisley North, compared with approximately one thousand Family Credit recipients in May 1997. In February 2002 there were 57 Disabled Person's Tax Credit recipients in Paisley North, compared with 22 Disability Working Allowance recipients in May 1997.

Customs and Excise

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to refocus the work of HM Customs and Excise, Cowes; and what he means by the term refocusing.

John Healey: Customs plan to deploy their law enforcement resources on the Isle of Wight more proactively, unpredictably and productively across a wider area to focus more on the serious threats from drugs and cigarette smuggling and from oils, alcohol and tax fraud.

Broadband

Brian White: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in centralised procurement of broadband networks for Government use.

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in centralised procurement of broadband networks for Government use.

Paul Boateng: My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for e-Commerce and Competitiveness at the Department of Trade & Industry announced on 26 June the letting of framework agreements by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to enable the public sector to buy broadband services more effectively; and the setting up of a Regional Broadband Unit.
	The frameworks procurement is underway and contracts are expected to be awarded next spring. The Regional Broadband Unit will be operational in November 2002. As part of the Unit, an OGC team will provide procurement assistance to the public sector. In addition, a DTI team of regional broadband advisors will ensure that public sector broadband procurement has the maximum impact on regional economic development.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives in local government on the subject of preparing for entry into the euro.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with representatives from all parts of Government and such discussions cover a wide range of issues.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on preparing for entry into the euro.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has regular discussions with representatives from all parts of Government and such discussions cover a wide range of issues.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to recharge each department for the costs of possible entry into the euro.

Ruth Kelly: There are no plans to recharge departments for the costs of a possible euro entry.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of preparing for entry into the euro for (a) central Government, (b) local government, (c) business and (d) the UK economy.

Ruth Kelly: It is not possible to estimate the cost of an introduction of the euro.
	The cost of a changeover would depend on the timing, the overall approach and individual management decisions.
	Details of preparations in the public sector for a possible UK entry into EMU may be found in HM Treasury's Sixth Report on Euro Preparations published in July.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has started the assessment of the five economic tests for membership of the euro; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government has said that it will complete an assessment of the five economic tests within two years of the start of this Parliament. The assessment has not yet started, but the necessary preliminary analysis—technical work that is necessary to undertake the assessment within two years as we promised—is underway.

Euro

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a document in respect of all acts of Parliament placing powers and obligations on Her Majesty's Government and other parties in the United Kingdom whose functioning would be affected by United Kingdom accession to the European currency, indicating in each case the section of each act concerned and that of the respective legislative instrument of the European Union;
	(2)  if he will list each new obligation which would apply to the Government and others in the United Kingdom, on adoption of the Euro as a currency, stating in each case the treaty together with the party to which it would apply.

Ruth Kelly: If Government, Parliament and the people—in a referendum—decide to join a successful single currency, the transfer of legal responsibility for monetary policy to the European Central Bank would entail changes to the domestic legislation of the United Kingdom governing the formulation and conduct of monetary policy, at least to the extent necessary to ensue compatibility with the EC Treaty and the Statute of the ESCB.
	The provisions of the EC Treaty and the Statute of the ESCB which would then become applicable to the United Kingdom are referred to in paragraphs 3 to 9 of Protocol (No 11) to the EC Treaty (on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). In addition, legislation adopted under Article 123.5 of the EC Treaty would make the provisions necessary to enable the United Kingdom to move to the final stage of economic and monetary union.

Import Duties

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue that would be lost to Her Majesty's Government if HM Customs were no longer able to stop any British citizen returning to the UK with cigarettes and alcohol on which no tax had been paid.

John Healey: Customs and Excise make no estimates of the potential loss of excise revenue if Customs were no longer able to stop British citizens returning to the UK with alcohol and tobacco products.

Government Accounts

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will bring forward proposals on who should sign the whole of Government accounts; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The first whole of government accounts, covering the results and financial position of central government for the year ending 31 March 2004, should be published in early 2005.
	The Financial Reporting Advisory Board will be consulted in 2003 on who should sign the accounts.

Pension Schemes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discount rate is used for public sector pension schemes in the accounts published for financial years (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The discount rate for valuing the liabilities of defined benefit public service pension schemes in their accounts for 2000–01 and 2001–02 was set at 3.5 per cent per annum net of changes in retail prices. Bodies in the wider public sector which fall outside the Resource Accounting framework made disclosures using discount rates determined under accounting standards SSAP24 or FRS17 as appropriate.

Income Tax

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the full year yield of a 50 per cent. tax rate on (a) gross incomes and (b) taxable incomes of more than #100,000 a year for financial years, (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The full-year effects of making the changes are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Income tax yield in 2002–03 (# billion) Income tax yield in 2003–04 (# billion) 
		
		
			 (a) 50 per cent. rate 
			 for gross incomes 
			 over #100,000 4.0 4.5 
			 (b) 50 per cent. rate 
			 for taxable incomes 
			 over #100,000 3.9 4.3 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the April 2002 Budget. These estimates exclude any behavioural response to the tax change.

Diesel

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he had made of the quantity of red diesel consumed at United Kingdom airports; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: No information is currently available on which to make such an estimate. However, from 1 April 2003, as part of the package of measures announced in Budget 2002 to tackle oils fraud, those dealing in red diesel (rebated gas oil) and kerosene will need to register with, and provide certain information to, Customs and Excise about the supplies they make. While the main purpose of gathering this information is to help Customs target fraudsters, it will also provide management information about supplies and consumption trends generally.

Banking Services (Rural Areas)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that banking services are available to those living in rural areas.

Ruth Kelly: Innovations in the financial services industry are providing new products and varied delivery channels to increase consumer choice in banking services. However, specific groups can still be vulnerable to financial exclusion and that is why the Government is involved in a number of initiatives aimed at increasing access to financial services. Rural areas in particular should benefit from a programme of work to deliver banking services through the Post Office. A number of banks already have agency agreements with the Post Office, allowing their customers to withdraw cash and make deposits at post offices—an extension of the coverage of banks and services provided is planned. The development of universal banking services at the Post Office, from April 2003, will also significantly increase the accessibility of banking services.

Productivity

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the trends in productivity growth; and what the latest productivity growth figures are.

John Healey: The Government's most recent assessment of trends in productivity growth was set out in Budget 2002 (HC 592) and the accompanying paper ''Trend Growth: Recent Developments and Prospects''. We will publish an updated assessment in this year's Pre-Budget Report.
	Latest figures show whole economy productivity picked up strongly and grew at above trend rates between the first and second quarters of 2002, with output per job rising by 0.7 per cent and output per hour rising by 1.1 per cent.

Mortgages (Dual Rates)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to require mortgage lenders who operated a dual rate to compensate borrowers who took out loans at the higher rate.

Ruth Kelly: It is for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to consider any wider implications of decisions taken by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), whether on dual interest rates or in other areas of its responsibility.

Equitable Life

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to make an announcement on the Penrose report into the affairs of Equitable Life Assurance; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Penrose Inquiry is independent of the Government and the timetable for conducting the Inquiry is a matter for Lord Penrose. No deadline for reporting has been set. The Inquiry's remit covers a long period of time and the issues involved are both broad and complex. A firm deadline was therefore felt to be an inappropriate constraint on the range and independence of the Inquiry.
	Lord Penrose has, however, made it clear that he is keen to ensure that the Inquiry proceeds as quickly as possible consistent with rigorously establishing the facts, producing an authoritative account and thoroughly identifying the lessons to be learnt.
	I look forward to receiving the report of Lord Penrose's Inquiry as soon as he is able to complete it.

EU Tax Harmonisation

Michael Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic impact on the UK of the harmonisation, in the EU, of taxes on diesel fuel at current fuel prices and taxation levels.

Dawn Primarolo: The European Commission has recently published a proposal to introduce a single harmonised diesel duty rate for commercial users of 350 euros per thousand litres of diesel in 2010. The proposal also sets out transitional regimes in the interim period. If this proposed duty rate were applied now, it would cost at least #2 billion a year in revenue. The Government will make it clear that we see no reason for a harmonised diesel duty rate.

Financial Aid

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid in (a) subsidies, (b) grants, (c) tax reliefs and (d) other financial aid to (i) the farming industry, (ii) other rural recipients, (iii) the black community and (iv) the gay community in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Boateng: Government support for the farming industry, rural communities, black communities and gay communities takes a variety of forms and a full breakdown in the format requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	However details on subsidies received by the farming sector are published in Agriculture in the UK 2001 (available in the Library of the House). In 2001–02 public expenditure to the agricultural sector in the UK under the Common Agricultural Policy and national grants and subsidies was #5.3 billion. This includes #2 billion on foot and mouth compensation payments and associated disposal costs.
	Details of the costs of the main tax reliefs can be found in table A3.1 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002, (also available in the Library of the House). We are unable to analyse the cost of tax reliefs in the format requested.

Nuclear Industry

Llew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer against which departmental budget the funding for the proposed Liabilities Management Authority, set out in CM 5552, Managing the Nuclear Legacy, will be attributed.

Paul Boateng: The costs will fall to the Department of Trade and Industry's budget.

Public Servants

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding the level of salaries of public servants; and what the outcomes were of those representations.

Paul Boateng: Although we receive some representations, it is for employers across the public sector, including departments individually within the civil service, to determine the level of salaries for their own staff. We would expect to make that point in response.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role economic incentives have in respect of the targets in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: Departments decide how to provide the right incentives to ensure delivery of their targets, as part of the delivery planning process.

Frozen Assets (Madagascar)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assets are held in the United Kingdom by (a) the Government and (b) other public authorities based in Madagascar; on what grounds action has been taken to freeze such assets; what mechanisms are available for concerned parties to (i) make representations and (ii) appeal against his action; and what action has been taken by other European Union countries against accounts held by authorities in Madagascar.

Ruth Kelly: No assets held in the United Kingdom by the Government or other public authorities based in Madagascar have been frozen. Actions taken by other European Union countries are a matter for their Governments.

Census (Northern Ireland)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Office for National Statistics has to publish the results of the Census in Northern Ireland; and what the breakdown is of (a) the adult population and (b) children under 18 years of age in each parliamentary constituency by religious belief and perceived community origin.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking what plans ONS has to publish the results of the Census in Northern Ireland; and what the breakdown is of (a) the adult population and (b) children under 18 years of age in each Parliamentary constituency by religious belief and perceived community origin (74159)
	As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have a statutory duty, under the provisions of section 4(1) of the Census Act 1920, to report the results of the Census in England and Wales to Parliament. The Registrar General for Northern Ireland has a similar statutory responsibility to report the results of the Census in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Thus, the ONS does not have any plans to publish detailed results of the Census in Northern Ireland.
	However, the first results from the 2001 Census, presented in a report to Parliament on 30 September, and which set out the population figures by sex and quinary age group for each local authority in England and Wales, also included corresponding figures for Northern Ireland as a whole and for Scotland, so that total figures for the United Kingdom could be included in order to assist all Members of Parliament.
	ONS also plan to publish a selection of key statistics from the 2001 Census for each UK Parliamentary constituency in a report, which is expected to be to be laid before Parliament around June 2003. This would include some summary information taken from the responses to the census question on religion, and would include counts of population by sex by age by main religious group. The Registrar General for Northern Ireland will decide what information on religious belief and community background of the population in Northern Ireland constituencies is to be included in this Report.
	The more detailed results on religion in Northern Ireland will be produced, however, by the Registrar General for Northern Ireland in reports to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Earnings (Scotland)

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) Scotland and (b) each unitary local authority area in Scotland the (i) weekly median earnings and (ii) the distribution of earnings for those earning (A) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (B) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed, broken down by (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual and (6) all female workers.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Michael Moore, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the distribution of weekly earnings for workers in Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland. (74312)
	The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy. In the attached tables I have provided the available data for Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland only for those areas where the samples are large enough. These are based on the 2001 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.
	
		Distribution of Gross Weekly Earnings of full time employees on adult rates of pay
		
			  Male Non-Manual Male Manual Male All 
			  Ten percent earned Ten percent earned Ten percent earned 
			  Median less than more than Median less than more than Median less than more than 
			  (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) 
		
		
			 SCOTLAND 465.7 246.7 845.2 323.7 206.2 514.3 388.8 222.6 720.8 
			 Aberdeen City 568.1 252.7 1067.2 337.0 197.5 682.9 451.5 232.8 972.2 
			 Aberdeenshire .. .. .. 332.2 205.6 503.8 388.3 230.3 685.1 
			 Angus .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Argyll & Bute .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Scottish Borders, The .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Clackmannanshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Dumfries & Galloway .. .. .. 316.3 199.1 434.1 345.5 212.9 666.9 
			 Dundee City .. .. .. 328.1 196.0 494.4 385.5 220.8 683.3 
			 East Ayrshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 East Dunbartonshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 East Lothian .. .. .. 314.4 208.0 439.4 .. .. .. 
			 East Renfrewshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Edinburgh, City of 493.0 247.3 881.0 326.5 196.4 530.9 425.6 225.1 793.0 
			 Falkirk .. .. .. 365.9 224.8 730.2 379.7 216.6 710.9 
			 Fife 431.0 215.5 715.7 316.0 215.5 491.4 354.8 215.8 627.8 
			 Glasgow City 465.1 236.5 863.7 322.1 198.3 513.0 400.0 219.8 767.8 
			 Highland 477.5 245.5 729.4 316.6 202.7 472.7 363.7 209.0 628.4 
			 Inverclyde .. .. .. 358.5 191.8 479.5 .. .. .. 
			 Midlothian .. .. .. 301.9 214.4 496.3 351.2 226.7 578.8 
			 Moray .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 North Ayrshire .. .. .. .. .. .. 405.1 208.8 700.0 
			 North Lanarkshire 448.3 258.2 770.6 348.5 212.6 529.3 380.3 235.4 683.3 
			 Orkney Islands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Perth & Kinross .. .. .. 287.4 184.1 451.7 373.1 204.5 638.2 
			 Renfrewshire 486.6 250.0 856.2 343.6 177.5 505.6 408.0 221.3 772.0 
			 Shetland Islands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 South Ayrshire .. .. .. 354.6 224.4 528.7 393.2 225.7 678.6 
			 South Lanarkshire .. .. .. 336.2 225.4 520.2 391.6 237.7 686.7 
			 Stirling .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 West Dunbartonshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 West Lothian .. .. .. 332.1 218.4 544.0 383.3 230.5 682.8 
			 Western Isles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
		
	
	Note:
	''..'' denotes the data has been suppressed in line with NES publication criteria.
	Source:
	New Earnings Survey, April 2001
	
		Distribution of Gross Weekly Earnings of full time employees on adult rates of pay
		
			  Female Non-Manual Female Manual Female All 
			  Ten percent earned Ten percent earned Ten percent earned 
			  Median less than more than Median less than more than Median less than more than 
			  (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) (#) 
		
		
			 SCOTLAND 316.7 198.0 562.6 212.3 151.1 345.0 295.8 181.6 536.6 
			 Aberdeen City 349.1 213.4 586.0 .. .. .. 316.3 181.3 533.1 
			 Aberdeenshire .. .. .. .. .. .. 236.1 146.4 498.6 
			 Angus 324.9 208.8 509.8 .. .. .. 268.5 170.8 492.9 
			 Argyll & Bute .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Scottish Borders, The .. .. .. 213.6 151.6 259.3 .. .. .. 
			 Clackmannanshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Dumfries & Galloway .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Dundee City 302.0 194.2 526.0 236.9 168.8 337.2 276.7 188.5 492.2 
			 East Ayrshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 East Dunbartonshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 East Lothian .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 East Renfrewshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Edinburgh, City of 351.9 216.0 630.4 .. .. .. 336.5 207.0 614.2 
			 Falkirk .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Fife 299.9 184.7 535.7 223.2 154.6 359.0 267.3 178.5 492.2 
			 Glasgow City 316.8 206.1 557.7 196.3 148.2 344.1 307.2 192.4 547.2 
			 Highland 299.9 183.1 551.8 .. .. .. 292.0 177.1 537.8 
			 Inverclyde .. .. .. .. .. .. 272.0 188.5 478.9 
			 Midlothian .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Moray .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 North Ayrshire .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 North Lanarkshire 296.5 198.3 536.6 197.9 160.8 319.4 277.8 183.0 504.0 
			 Orkney Islands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 Perth & Kinross 287.9 172.7 535.6 .. .. .. 267.3 163.2 503.7 
			 Renfrewshire 330.5 198.4 564.7 .. .. .. 294.3 178.8 536.6 
			 Shetland Islands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 South Ayrshire 347.4 211.8 552.0 310.1 200.7 546.3 
			 South Lanarkshire 343.9 201.8 583.3 .. .. .. 305.4 188.5 542.8 
			 Stirling .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 West Dunbartonshire .. .. .. .. .. .. 271.0 166.9 446.0 
			 West Lothian .. .. .. .. .. .. 316.0 200.2 550.2 
			 Western Isles .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
		
	
	Note:
	''..'' denotes the data has been suppressed in line with NES publication criteria.
	Source:
	New Earnings Survey, April 2001

Commissioner for Public Appointments

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 24 July 2002, Official Report column 1197–99W, on the Commissioner for Public Appointments, (a) for which panel an additional candidate was put forward and (b) which bodies only have informal performance assessment systems in place; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: (a) An additional candidate was put forward for the post of non-executive director of the Court of the Bank of England.
	(b) The Treasury is considering whether it is appropriate to introduce formal performance assessment processes for the Court of directors of the Bank of England and the Commissioners of the Statistics Commission.

Fuel Duty

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of fuel duty rebates and reduced rates of duty on (a) red diesel and (b) kerosene in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The most recent estimate of loss in revenue to the Exchequer resulting from the duty rebate given to ''red diesel'' is approximately #3.3 billion in each of the past three years, based on the difference between the duty rate for rebated gas oil and that for heavy oil used as a road fuel. Such estimates for kerosene currently do not exist.
	The estimates for red diesel represent the maximum cost to the Exchequer since they do not allow for a reduction in demand that might be expected if the full duty rate were levied on red diesel.
	It is our policy to review rebates and reduced rates as part of the Budget process. In making his judgment, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will consider all relevant economic, social and environmental factors.

Trader Liabilities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of outstanding trader liabilities were written off by Customs and Excise in the latest year for which data is available; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The latest available figure is #769.8 million, as published in Customs & Excise's annual Trust Statement for 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published in the 2001–02 Trust Statement later in the year.

Trader Liabilities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the p519 latest estimate of outstanding trader debt as defined in Spending Review 2000 PSA target one for Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Achievement of the Spending Review (SR) 2000 PSA Targets, Objective 1, was published in H M Customs & Excise Spring Report June 2002. The third quarter outturn for trader debt to 31 December 2001 was 1.88 per cent. against the target of 1.41 per cent.
	The full year results for 2001–02 will be published later this year, in H M Customs & Excise Autumn Performance Report, along with the emerging outturn for 2002–03.

Depleted Uranium

Llew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of depleted uranium have been exported to the United States in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The table below shows the quantities (in kilograms) of depleted uranium and products containing depleted uranium that were exported to the United States each year from 1997 to 2001:
	
		
			  Cermets containing uranium depleted in U235 Uranium depleted in U235; alloys, dispersions (other than cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing uranium depleted in U235 or compounds of this product Total 
		
		
			 1997 nil 41kg 41kg 
			 1998 1kg 26kg 27kg 
			 1999 2kg 14kg 16kg 
			 2000 nil nil nil 
			 2001 nil nil nil

Population Profile

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the population are over (a) 75 years and (b) 85 years in (i) Worthing, West, (ii) England and (iii) the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Bottomley, dated 15 October 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the proportion of the population over 75 and over 85 years in the parliamentary constituency of Worthing West. (74767)
	Although the first results of the 2001 Census have just been published they are only currently available for local authorities in five year age groups.
	In view of this, the attached table gives the proportion of the population 75 and over and 85 and over in Worthing local authority, England and the UK at Census day 2001.
	
		
			  Area Proportion of the total population aged 75 and over % Proportion of the total population aged over 85 and over % 
		
		
			 Worthing Local Authority 13.5 4.6 
			 England 7.5 1.9 
			 UK 7.5 1.9

Service Delivery Agreements

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish updated service delivery agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Departments will publish their service delivery agreements soon.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by her Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within her Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Kim Howells: The available information requested for the Department, including the Royal Parks Agency, shows total costs incurred to be #3,394,385. Further details could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when work will commence on the construction of the Stonehenge Visitors Centre; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The date for the start of work on the Visitor Centre is not yet known and will depend on the outcome of statutory planning procedures. However it will not open until the flyover to replace the Countess Roundabout has been completed.

Tourism

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists visited Huntingdonshire in (a) 2001, (b) 2000 and (c) 1999.

Kim Howells: The table below sets out figures showing numbers of overnight stays and day trips in Huntingdonshire in 1999 and 2000. * Figures for 2001 are unavailable.
	
		
			 Year Day Trips Overnight Stays Total Trips 
		
		
			 1999 3.9 million 378,000 4.278 million 
			 2000 4 million 541,000 4.541 million 
		
	
	Note:
	* Data is not available by tourist numbers, but is collected in the form of day trips and overnight stays.

Physical Activity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies her Department has made of the links between physical activity and improved health.

Richard Caborn: My Department has not commissioned any studies of the links between physical activity and improved health.
	I regularly have discussions with my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on a wide range of issues related to sport policy, including the relationship of sport and health. It is agreed that the promotion of sport plays a valuable role and my Department has been working closely with the Department of Health to ensure co-ordination of sport and health policy.

Physical Activity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has considered recently to increase participation in physical activity amongst adults.

Richard Caborn: The Government's Plan for Sport sets out the importance of engaging and motivating a wide range of organisations to develop new initiatives, strategies, projects and schemes that will offer more opportunities for participation for adults and the whole community,
	In addition the New Opportunities Fund PE and School Sport programme is investing #581 million in England towards school sports facilities, #25 million of which will go towards the Space for Sport and Arts initiative, a #130 million investment to create more than 300 multi-use facilities in primary schools. All facilities will be made available for use by the whole community.
	DCMS has also been allocated #20 million for 2003–04 from the Capital Modernisation Fund which will be distributed to both provide new facilities and improve existing facilities.

Physical Activity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role her Department plans for (a) the private sector and (b) voluntary sports clubs in improving public health.

Richard Caborn: The Department and the Department for Education and Skills, supported by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, are working on a project to effect improvements to PE and School Sport and build stronger school/club links so young people can carry on playing sport when they leave school.
	The Strategy Unit is also looking closely into this issue as part of their overall review of the structure of sport.

Playing Fields

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new playing fields have been created under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities project.

Richard Caborn: Under the New Opportunities Fund's Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, #22 million has been allocated for schools and community playing fields. Hitherto, nineteen projects have been awarded grants amounting to #2,071,997. Of these, five include the creation of new playing fields.

Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Project

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the projects which have been funded under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities project.

Richard Caborn: Under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, the New Opportunities Fund will deliver projects worth #125 million across The United Kingdom through 11 award partners. Hitherto, #38,027,240 has been committed to 1,230 projects under this initiative. The table below details the number of projects funded, and the amount committed so far, by each award partner.
	
		
			 Organisation Number of Projects Amount committed (#) 
		
		
			 England 
			 Barnardo's 50 2,933,620 
			 BTCV 93 715,346 
			 The Countryside Agency 134 1,933,602 
			 English Nature 111 4,946,078 
			 RSNC 231 7,605,950 
			 Sustrans 57 5,043,000 
			 Sport England 337 5,843,692 
			 Northern Ireland 
			 NIHE 52 500,725 
			 Scotland 
			 Fresh Futures 35 704,368 
			 SLF 72 6,254,271 
			 Wales 
			 WCVA 58 1,546,588 
			  
			 UK Total 1,230 38,027,240

Communications (Northern Ireland)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if the Government will consider (a) satellite and (b) cable delivery platforms to implement the commitments regarding the extension of reception of the signal TG4 in Northern Ireland made by the Government in the Belfast Agreement in 1998;
	(2)  if the Government have identified terrestrial delivery options from transmitters located in Northern Ireland in seeking to implement the commitments regarding the extension of reception of the signal TG4 in Northern Ireland made by the Government in the Belfast Agreement in 1998.

Kim Howells: We are considering the technical feasibility of improving the coverage of Irish language television services in Northern Ireland terrestrially. It is already open to Irish broadcasters to negotiate the carriage of their services on digital satellite, for reception in Northern Ireland, with the platform provider. Similarly, it is for the broadcasters to determine the viability of providing cable television services in Northern Ireland.

Communications (Northern Ireland)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she intends to include provisions in the Communications Bill to provide statutory implementation measures for the commitments regarding Irish language television production in Northern Ireland made by the Government in the Belfast Agreement in 1998;
	(2)  if she will provide for the establishment of an Irish language production fund in Northern Ireland in the Communications Bill to implement the commitments regarding financial support for such production in Northern Ireland as made by the Government in the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

Kim Howells: We are currently giving careful consideration to these issues following responses to the consultation on the draft Communications Bill. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a more detailed response.

Screen South

Chris Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding is provided by the Film Council to Screen South in 2002–03; what element of that funding is provided for (a) the salaries of Screen South staff and internal administration and (b) for direct support of appropriate activities in the region.

Kim Howells: In the financial year 2002–03 the Film Council will provide #879,267 to Screen South through the Regional Investment Fund for England (RIFE). Screen South staff carry out many activities in the region, for example location services for incoming film productions, which are funded from #300,200 of the RIFE allocated to salaries and internal administration. The remaining funds (#579,067) are used to support a range of other activities in the region including film production, exhibition, education and training.

Broadcasting

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations he has received from hon. Members, other individuals and organisations in connection with the statutory ban on religious organisations holding several categories of broadcasting licence; and how many and what percentage of those representatives supported the continuation of such a ban.

Kim Howells: The Government's papers, ''A New Future for Communications'' published in December 2000, and ''Consultation on Media Ownership Rules'' published in November 2001, confirmed that we planned to bring forward legislation to allow religious bodies to hold a local digital sound programme licence. Both papers invited further views on whether the restrictions on ownership of other terrestrial licences by religious bodies should be relaxed. We received approximately 14,500 (6,500 and 8,000 respectively) responses from MPs, organisations and members of public, virtually all of which, broadly supported the lifting of the current restrictions.

Broadcasting

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what limitations there are on the spectrum available to broadcasters allocated on new digital muliplexes; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Multiplex service licences have been granted to the BBC and to Crown Castle by the Independent Television Commission under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1996, as described in the ITC invitation to apply for digital licences issued on 1 May 2002. The Act currently requires that at least 90 per cent. of the capacity on any multiplex must be available for programme or programme-related services.

Broadcasting

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons there are restrictions on the broadcast of religious music.

Kim Howells: There are no restrictions on the broadcast of religious music.

Broadcasting

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons religious persons are limited in the broadcast licences for which they can apply.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 June, Official Report, columns 273W–274W.

Gambling

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what action her Department is taking to improve research into the incidence of problem gambling and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what action her Department is taking to improve services to problem gamblers; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We have encouraged the gambling industry to support the charitable trust which it has established with a remit to fund both research into problem gambling and services for its treatment. The trust has already made good progress towards the target of #3m a year which was proposed by the Gambling Review Body; and my officials have been helping the trust to develop a sound strategy for improving prevention and treatment provision. Looking ahead, we have also made clear our intention to include in legislation to reform and modernise the regulation of gambling in Great Britain both: (a) reserve powers to require licensed gambling operators to fund this work; and (b) an obligation on them in any event to comply with a code of practice on social responsibility, to be published by the new Gambling Commission when established. We intend that one of the Commission's duties should be to keep the regulatory requirements under review in the light of evidence about problem gambling and to consider whether adjustments may be required accordingly.

Sports Clubs (Charitable Status)

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how sports clubs which are industrial and provident societies are able to secure charitable status.

Richard Caborn: Under the Charities Act 1993, sports clubs which are set up as charitable industrial and provident societies are considered to be exempt charities and are therefore unable to register with the Charity Commission. However, charitable industrial and provident societies are already eligible for the tax advantages of charitable status without having to register with the Commission.
	It is possible to set up an industrial and provident society as a non-charitable organisation and clubs which have chosen to do this would be eligible to register with the Charity Commission as community amateur sports clubs with charitable status.

TV Licences

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her consultations with the BBC about amending the television licence fee regulations to protect the rights of people in sheltered accommodation when the social mix or level or warden cover change; and whether she plans to keep the current rules in force.

Kim Howells: Consultations between officials and the BBC about the proposed changes to the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary television licence scheme are still in progress. We remain committed to the introduction of preserved rights to the ARC concession for existing beneficiaries, when the social mix or the level of warden cover in their sheltered housing change, and we intend to bring forward amending regulations as soon as we can. However, it is important that in doing so we do not create any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.

Sittingbourne Football Club

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she will have with Swale Borough Council about the future of Sittingbourne Football Club at Central Stadium, Sittingbourne.

Richard Caborn: Funding applications for grass roots football are matters for the Football Foundation.
	I understand that the Football Foundation have had no contact to date with either Swale Borough Council or the management of Sittingbourne Football Club in regard to an application for grant aid.
	Grants of up to #150,000 are available to grass roots football clubs who meet the Foundation's criteria. However, it is for the management of the football club or the council to contact the Football Foundation to discuss eligibility for funding.

Commonwealth Games

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which members of the Government are scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Games; and what the estimated cost is of their visits.

Richard Caborn: The following Members of Government attended the Commonwealth Games in an official capacity:
	Prime Minister
	John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister
	Jack Straw, Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
	Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport
	Baroness Blackstone, Minister of State for the Arts
	Maria Eagle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions
	Ian McCartney, Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
	David Jamieson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport
	Baroness Amos, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	The total cost of their travel and accommodation was #9,299.65. Travel arrangements were in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, ''Travel by Ministers''.
	The following Members of Government attended the Games in a private capacity and incurred no cost to the public purse:
	Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence
	Hazel Blears, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health
	Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary under Secretary of State, Department of Education and Skills
	Christopher Leslie, Parliamentary under Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Stephen Timms, Minister of State for e-commerce & Competitiveness, Department of Trade and Industry
	Beverley Hughes, Minister of State, Home Office
	Lord Macdonald, Minister for the Cabinet Office
	Phil Woolas, Assistant Government Whip

Healthy Living Centres

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many healthy living centres have been opened in the United Kingdom; when the (a) first and (b) last ones were opened; and what plans she has for further such centres.

Richard Caborn: The New Opportunities Fund's Healthy Living Centres grants programme was launched in 1999 and in total 349 award offers have been made across the UK. The first award was made in November 1999 to the St. Augustine's Centre in King's Lynn, Norfolk. The centre officially opened on 27 April 2001 on completion of building works.
	The last awards were made in September 2002. The New Opportunities Fund expects projects to start work within six months of accepting an award, although official openings may take place later than this. As a result, there will be Healthy Living Centre project openings throughout 2003 and possibly longer. The programme is now closed to new applications and there are currently no plans for a further Healthy Living Centre grants programme in the future.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Ministerial Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many ministerial and other staff cars were available in his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department currently has 4 ministerial cars and 655 staff cars. Of these, 552 belong to the Court Service with 80 per cent. allocated to bailiffs and the remaining 20 per cent. to staff that need to travel regularly as part of their work.
	The fleet increased from 584 in April 2001 when LCD assumed responsibility for cars used by the newly created CAFCASS. During the previous four years the fleet size remained broadly constant.

Magistrates Courts (Fines)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total UK figure is for outstanding fines imposed by magistrates' courts.

Yvette Cooper: Magistrates' Courts Committees have a responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed by Magistrates' courts and the Crown Court, as well as other agencies. Debt collected includes not only fines, but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out only fines from the total, nor those imposed by Magistrates' courts and still outstanding.
	The total ''arrears'' of debt at 31 March 2002 (which relates to England and Wales) was #246 million. However, most fines are paid by instalment, by agreement with the court, while the ''arrears'' figure reflects the fact that technically all of a debt is due immediately, whether or not an instalment order has been made.
	The Government is committed to improving the enforcement of financial penalties and lead responsibility for warrant execution was transferred from the police to Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) on 1 April 2001, giving MCCs control over the whole enforcement process.
	Since then, we have established an information sharing scheme, which enables Magistrates' courts to obtain basic information on defaulters from the Department for Work and Pensions. We have also set performance targets for 2002–3 and MCCs have been provided with some #10 million extra from April 2002 under a netting-off scheme, ring-fenced for enforcement purposes.

Electoral Registration

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of people have chosen not to have their electoral registration details sold for use by any person for any purpose; what steps he has taken to ensure that electoral registration officers can identify unauthorised use by those who have access to the closed version of the full register; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: This information will not be available until after 1 December, the date by which registers based on the 2002 annual canvass must be published. There are no plans to collect the information centrally. Unauthorised use of the full register is a criminal offence and is therefore a matter for the police rather than electoral registration officers.

Solicitors (Complaints)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the supervision of complaints against solicitors by the OSS.

Rosie Winterton: The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS), the Law Society's complaints handling wing, is already subject to independent scrutiny by the Legal Services Ombudsman. The Lord Chancellor has no current plans to instigate a further review of complaints handling, however he has warned the OSS that unless swift and substantive improvements are made across the board, he will not hesitate to implement his reserve powers which allow for the establishment of a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner. In addition, he has announced recently a review of the framework for regulating legal services. The first step in the review will be to decide what it should cover in terms of services and providers and what issues it should address.

Queen's Counsels

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reform the appointment register for Queen's Counsel.

Rosie Winterton: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, issued a Consultation Paper, ''In the public interest?'', in July, seeking evidence to enable the Lord Chancellor's Department to address concerns expressed in the Office of Fair Trading Report, ''Competition in Professions''. The Lord Chancellor keeps the detailed selection process for appointment of Queen's Counsel under constant review and has introduced a range of recent changes to improve the openness and accountability of the system.

Public Guardianship Office

Nigel Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 July, Official Report, column 412W, on the Public Guardianship Office, if he will make a statement on the level of customer complaints about the Public Guardianship Office.

Rosie Winterton: Of the complaints received the most common theme was delay. The PGO has, in the course of major restructuring, and a move out of central London, lost a large number of experienced staff. It is now taking steps to restore service levels, including: a local recruitment campaign, intensive training courses, re-siting of case files adjacent to case work teams, a reconfiguration of the new telephone system and the introduction gradually of an electronic records management system to replace the largely paper based one.

Witnesses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the facilities required adequately to house witnesses seperately from those charged and appearing before street crime courts.

Yvette Cooper: My officials identified 70 street crime courts. The courts were identified according to the following criteria:
	Separate entrance for witnesses or a facility to separate them immediately upon arrival. Separate secure waiting area for witnesses.
	Availability of witness support service.
	Separate lavatories and catering facilities or provision to prevent intimidation when using them.
	Capacity of the court to cope with projected workload.
	Current adequate performance.
	Availability of adequate public transport.
	Work has been commissioned at each designated street crime court, to ensure that court accommodation meets these criteria. The majority of these works will be completed in the courts by the end of September 2002. Where they have not yet been completed, local arrangements are in place to separate witnesses on arrival.

Magistrates Courts, Wiltshire

Robert Key: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he has made on reorganisation of magistrates' courts in Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Magistrates Courts, Essex

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she expects to make a decision on the appeal by Thurrock Council about the Private Finance Initiative Scheme for magistrates courts in Essex; and whether progress can be made with proposals for a new court house in Colchester in the meantime.

Yvette Cooper: I have agreed to meet the interested parties to discuss the issues raised in the appeal, and will do so as soon as a suitable date has been arranged. I will not be in a position to determine the appeal until after this meeting.
	Once the appeal has been concluded consideration will be given to the outline business case for the Essex PPP scheme, which includes proposals for a new court in Colchester.

Transsexual People

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps are being taken, following the judgment in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Christine Goodwin v. the United Kingdom, to ensure that domestic law complies with Articles 8 and 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights in respect of transsexual people.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 1082W].

Public Record Office

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what guidance has been issued to departments relating to the retention of e-mails for possible future submission to the Public Record Office.

Rosie Winterton: Key guidance has been issued for the management of e-mails within government departments, with a view to their future retention as public records. The Public Record Office published ''Management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records—Vol 2: Procedures'' in 1999, which gives detailed advice on standards, procedures and policies for managing e-mails as records.

Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  when special measures direction providing for vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses to use TV link facilities, available under Section 21 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(2)  when special measures direction providing for vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses to give video recording of their evidence, available under Section 23 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(3)  when special measures direction providing for the exclusion of the public from court whilst a vulnerable or intimidated witness gives evidence, available under Section 25 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(4)  when special measures direction providing that wearing of wigs and gowns be dispensed with whilst a vulnerable or intimidated witness gives evidence, available under Section 26 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(5)  when special measures direction providing for a video recording of an interview of a vulnerable or intimidated witness to be admitted as that person's evidence-in-chief, available under Section 27 of the Youth and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(6)  when special measures direction providing for cross examination of a vulnerable or intimidated witness to be video recorded and admitted as evidence, available under Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(7)  when special measures direction providing for examination of a vulnerable or intimidated witness to be conducted through an interpreter, available under Section 29 of the Youth and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas;
	(8)  when special measures direction providing for the witness to be provided with such a device as the court considers appropriate to enable questions or answers to be communicated to or by the witness despite any impairment which the witness has or suffers, available under Section 30 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, will be available in all areas.

Yvette Cooper: Sections 21, 23, 25, 26, 27 and 30 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 referred to in the questions came into force on 24 July 2002 in all areas of England and Wales. Sections 28 and 29 are not yet in force. The courts have facilities to deal with the new special measures. There are TV Links in all Crown Court centres and video recording equipment and interpreters are available. More equipment is to be fitted this financial year to cope with demand. There is no single device that will solve all issues resulting from hearing impairment, but each case is treated on its merits and arrangements made accordingly. This may include a hearing loop, voice amplification or a signer etc. Video link equipment will also be installed in 154 Magistrates Courts by September 2002. Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses facilities are already fitted in 133 Magistrates Courts.

Data Protection Directive

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department, in relation to the recent proposals published by the Government in relation to amendment of the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, if he will identify the source that suggested each of the proposals in the publication; and if he will make a statement as to his plan of action and timetable with respect to these changes.

Yvette Cooper: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the proposals in the paper proposing amendments to Directive 95/46/EC which was submitted to the European Commission in the names of Austria, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom on 13 September. The joint paper was attached to the second part of the United Kingdom's response to the European Commission's questionnaire to Member States' Governments about the implementation of the Directive. The first part of the Government's response was submitted to the Commission on 14 June. I am placing copies of both parts of the response, including the joint paper, in the Library.
	It would be difficult to identify which Member State was responsible for making a particular proposal, since initial proposals were often significantly amended in the course of discussion. Moreover, identifying the source of the proposals would be inconsistent with the accepted convention that one Member State should not reveal another Member State's negotiating position.
	The responses to the Commission's questionnaire will inform the report that the Commission are preparing on the implementation of the Directive. The Government hopes that, in preparing their report, the Commission will give serious consideration to the United Kingdom's response, including the joint paper. I understand that the Commission's present objective is to produce the report by about the turn of the year.

PRIME MINISTER

Intelligence and Security Committee

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the reports produced by the Intelligence and Security Committee, excluding annual reports to him.

Tony Blair: In addition to the Intelligence and Security Committee's four Annual Reports and one Interim Report, I have, since May 1997, laid the following two reports on special subjects before the House:
	Report on Sierra Leone May 1999
	The Mitrokhin Inquiry Report June 2000

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to give a substantive reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 26 March about policy announcements to Parliament.

Tony Blair: I replied to the right hon. Member on 1 August.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the Treasury Minister to whom he has referred for reply letters to him from the right hon. Member Manchester, Gorton dated (a) 9 July with regard to Ms S. Nutter and Ms L. Roberts, (b) 17 July with regard to Mr. S. Pennells and Dr. V. Hay, (c) 22 July with regard to Rev Canon Peter Vowles, (d) 4 July with regard to Ms H. Andrews, (e) 29 July with regard to Ms K. Fletcher and (f) 30 July with regard to Ms C. Mitchell and Ms N. Flanagan replies; and if he will request explanations from Her Majesty's Treasury for its delay in responding to these letters;
	(2)  if he will instruct the Secretary of State for Health to reply to the letter to him dated 27 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Battersby; and if he will request an explanation from that Secretary of State for the delay in replying to that letter.

Tony Blair: I understand that my hon. Friends, the Minister of State for Health and the Economic Secretary replied to my hon. Friend's letters on 11 September and 23 September respectively.
	I have written to my right hon. Friend explaining that I place great importance on the efficient handling of all correspondence and take an active interest in our performance in this regard. As far as I am aware all the letters he has raised have now been answered.

Patriotism Envoy

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Prime Minister what studies and initiatives have been undertaken since he appointed a patriotism envoy; and at what cost.

Tony Blair: I have not appointed a patriotism envoy. However, the Government has undertaken a range of initiatives on this issue. For example, the Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with the Citizenship Foundation, has run British identity roadshows in London, Sheffield and Cardiff at a cost of around #5,000. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (the hon. Member for North Swindon) (Mr. Wills) has given four seminars hosted by the Social Market Foundation on this issue. He has also written a pamphlet on this issue published by the Social Market Foundation and several newspaper articles. There was no cost to Her Majesty's Government.

Faith Envoy

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) engagements undertaken by the hon. Member for Leeds, West since his appointment as unofficial faith envoy; and (b) articles and interviews authorised by the envoy; and what initiatives are planned in the next two months.

Tony Blair: Shortly after the last general election I asked the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) to take on an informal role as my unofficial representative to the faith communities thereby serving as an extra channel of communication between faith groups and Government. Since his appointment he has met with many religious representatives. As it is an unofficial role the hon. Member is primarily responsible for deciding and arranging his engagements and written contributions.

Peerages

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister how many peerages have been created since May 1997.

Tony Blair: 269 life peers have been created since 1 May 1997. This includes peers nominated by my predecessor but created after the 1997 General Election. Of these, 116 have been appointed specifically either as Labour Ministers or as Labour working peers.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had about (a) the future of British Energy and (b) the future of nuclear power generation in the United Kingdom;
	(2)  when he was first informed that there were concerns about the financial viability of British Energy.

Tony Blair: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, kept me informed, as she was informed by British Energy of its financial position.
	The Government is currently carrying out a review of energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper around the turn of the year. The review includes consideration of the role of nuclear power generation.

Arnab Banerji

James Clappison: To ask the Prime Minister what role he played in the appointment of Arnab Banerji as the Prime Minister's adviser on financial matters; and what formal mechanisms are in place for liaison between Dr. Banerji and the Treasury.

Tony Blair: I have appointed Arnab Banerji as a special adviser in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 50 of the Ministerial Code. He is employed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Drug Dependency

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what Government services are available for people with drug problems who are seeking work;
	(2)  what recent steps have been taken to ensure that people recovering from drug problems are ready to enter a working environment;
	(3)  what benefits are available for those in work and still dependent on drugs to ensure that they do not relapse.

Nick Brown: We are committed to helping unemployed people who have decided to kick their drug habit and move into work. Our policies and programmes are helping people with drug problems to overcome them and lead healthy and productive lives, a key aim of the Government's Anti-Drugs Strategy.
	Jobcentre Plus provides a wide range of help for people recovering from drug problems, including early access to programmes like the New Deal and Work Based Learning for Adults.
	In addition, we are introducing progress2work, a #40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from their drug problem the extra help they need to get into work.
	Progress2work will provide specialist support to help recovering drug mis-users to make the best use of our welfare to work initiatives and move into jobs. It will equip Jobcentre Plus staff with the skills and knowledge they need to better identify people whose drug mis-use puts them at a disadvantage in the labour market, and refer them to appropriate provision.
	We launched the first progress2work projects in the spring in 27 pathfinder areas throughout the country, including one in my hon. Friend's constituency. The second phase of the initiative begins in a further 36 areas from this month. We plan to roll out the programme nationally from next year.
	In progress 2 work, close contact is maintained with jobseekers when they move into work or training to anticipate and assist, where necessary, with any problems that may cause them to drop out or relapse. The assistance given is dependent on the individual's needs but can include, for example, referral to a drugs agency, help with accommodation and debt problems, or confidence building and support to manage the transition into employment.

Post Office

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what restrictions there will be on Post Office customers collecting (a) child benefit, (b) pensions and (c) other benefits at post offices; and which bank accounts will not be accessible via the Post Office.

Malcolm Wicks: We have given a commitment that all customers who wish to collect their benefit or pension in cash at post offices will continue to be able to do so.
	The Post Office already has arrangements with some High Street banks—Girobank/Alliance and Leicester, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Cahoot, Smile and Co-op Bank, and First Direct (Scotland only)—to provide their banking facilities free of charge to customers. The Post Office also provides a cheque cashing facility for customers of other banks, but a charge is made for this service.
	From April 2003, these arrangements will be complemented with the main banks and the Nationwide Building Society making their basic bank accounts widely available through post offices. The Post Office is also developing a Post Office card account. This will only be available through post offices and will allow benefit and pension customers to access their cash without charge at the post office.

Post Office

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether he plans to allow applicants to open a Post Office account (a) in person at post office counters and (b) in writing;
	(2)  when Post Office accounts will be available.

Ian McCartney: Customers who wish to open Post Office card accounts will need to discuss their account options with the relevant paying Department. They will then be given a letter to take to their Post Office branch where they will be issued with an application form. The Post Office plan to have available the card account service from April 2003.

Disability and Carers Service

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will extend the one day impairment awareness courses for decisions makers in the Disability and Carers Service which cover mental health and learning disabilities to other impairments;
	(2)  If a course on deaf awareness will be developed for decisions makers in the Disability and Carers Service.

Maria Eagle: There is an on-going programme of training for all staff in the Disability and Carers Service, which includes a one-day module on Disability Awareness encompassing a range of disability issues, including deaf awareness, together with two specialist one-day modules for Decision Makers covering Mental Health and Learning Disability issues. There is a commitment to review the scope of the Programme with a view to extending the specialist modules for Decision Makers to other impairments in due course.

Deafness

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it the policy of his Department to ensure that every deaf person who needs assistance with completing a disability living allowance or attendance allowance claim form and who cannot access the telephone form completion service is entitled to a home visit instead.

Maria Eagle: The Disability and Carer's Service policy, in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, ensures accessibility of information for all disabled people. If a deaf person requires help to complete a benefit claim form for Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance and cannot use the telephone forms completion service, which includes text phone facilities, we would arrange an interview with the appropriate interpreter present. The interview could take place at the nearest Social Security office but, if this presents difficulties for the customer, we could arrange for it to take place at home.

Nut Allergies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason disability living allowance and carers allowance are not available to the parents of children with nut allergies.

Maria Eagle: Children with nut allergies are not precluded from entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, and neither are their parents precluded from receiving Invalid Care Allowance for looking after them. But they must meet the usual qualifying conditions for the benefits. For Invalid Care allowance this means that the carer must not be engaged in full-time paid employment and must provide regular and substantial care for a least 35 hours per week to a severely disabled person receiving either the middle or highest rate of the Disability Living Allowance care component. To qualify for that component, a severely disabled child must have a need for attention, supervision or watching over by another person which is substantially in excess of the needs of an able-bodied child of the same age.

SERPS

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his advertising campaign on rights to inherited SERPS, for what reason there are special rates for women born in a particular four month period, as set out in the footnote to these advertisements.

Ian McCartney: Women born between 6 July 1950 and 5 October 1950 will attain state pension age after 6 April 2010, and will therefore be able to pass on up to 50 per cent. of their SERPS.
	This is because their state pension age is over 60 as part of the equalisation of state pension age.

Incapacity Benefit

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the entitlement to passported help available to claimants who have received the higher rate of incapacity benefit for over 12 months;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of recent changes to the long rate incapacity benefit.

Nick Brown: We have reformed Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) in order to provide more support to young people disabled early in life who have never had the opportunity to work.
	From 6 April 2001 young people whose incapacity begins before the age of 20 (or 25 for those continuing in education until age 20) may qualify for IB even if they have not satisfied the contribution conditions. Existing SDA recipients under the age of 20 on 6 April 2001 were automatically transferred to long-term IB in April 2002. We estimate that around 175,000 young people will benefit from the change over time.
	Depending on their circumstances people receiving IB can qualify for help with the cost of NHS treatment on the grounds of low income. They may also be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Social Fund crisis loans are available to people who are without resources, irrespective of their benefit status, to prevent serious damage or risk to health or safety in the event of an emergency or a disaster. A variety of local government schemes and benefits are also available to people on low incomes. Details of these schemes are not held centrally.
	We recognise that some young people who transfer from SDA to IB will no longer have automatic entitlement to this help but many in this group will already be considerably better off as a result of the changes we have introduced and it would be unfair to treat these people differently to other IB recipients.

Benefit Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the proportion of parents with care in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance and corresponding benefits in earlier years, who were in receipt of child maintenance in (a) 1979, (b) 1993, (c) 1997 and (d) the latest year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is set out in the table below. No reliable estimates for parents with care, on a comparable basis to those for 1997 and 2002, are available for 1979 and 1993. Figures for 1997 and 2002 are for parents with care with a full maintenance assessment.
	
		
			 Year Caseload 1  ('000) % receiving maintenance (income-related benefits 2 /tax credits) 
		
		
			 19971 345 40 
			 20021 654 40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Information based on the Child Support Quarterly Summary of Statistics, for February in each of the years, which is a 5 per cent. sample of all ''live and assessed'' cases on the Child Support Computer System.
	2 Income-related benefits covered are Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, for both years, and Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance for 1997 only.

Benefit Payments

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of benefit claimants receive their benefits by automated credit transfer, broken down by parliamentary constituency, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. Statistical information that is readily available, can only be provided by individual benefit for each parliamentary constituency. This information has been placed in the library.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24 July, Official Report, col. 1373W.

Benefit Fraud

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals on fraud in the benefit system.

Malcolm Wicks: We set ourselves a firm Public Service Agreement target to make a 10 per cent. reduction in the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by March 2002. By September 2001 we had achieved a 24 per cent. reduction—more than double the target.
	We have now announced an increase in our target for reducing fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance for working age customers by March 2004, from 25 per cent. to 33 per cent., and we maintain our longer-term commitment to a 50 per cent. reduction by March 2006. We have also announced a new target of a 25 per cent. reduction in fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 2006.
	In April we introduced a range of measures using powers taken in the Fraud Act 2001 which will help us tackle fraudsters. For example, investigators can now request information from banks and utilities to find evidence of fraud and they have stronger powers to tackle employers who collude with their staff to defraud the benefit system. We now also have the power to remove benefits from those people who persistently abuse the system.
	These new powers will help us continue our fight to make sure that the right benefits go to the right people. They are also sending out the clear message to fraudsters that they will not get away with it.

Benefit Payments

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 96W, on disability living allowance, if he will give the same information for (a) the Argyll and Bute constituency and (b) Scotland;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 96W, on disability living allowance, how many applicants whose initial claim for DLA was rejected in (a) the Argyll and Bute constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom appealed against the rejection in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the table. Information about appeals and unsuccessful claims is not available for individual constituencies or for Scotland.
	
		Successful applications for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) over the last five years in the Argyle and Bute constituency and Scotland.
		
			  First applications Successful on first application Successful on review 
		
		
			  Argyle & Bute 
			 Constituency 
			 2000–01 *200 *100 — 
			 2001–02 *500 *300 — 
			 Scotland
			 1997–98 27,100 19,600 5,100 
			 1998–99 23,700 17,200 3,600 
			 1999–2000 23,100 17,400 3,100 
			 2000–01 27,400 20,700 2,000 
			 2001–02 28,300 20,800 1,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures marked * are subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	3. ''—'' Denotes nil or negligible.
	4. Parliamentary constituency data is not available prior to 2000.
	5 Figures for reviews include reconsiderations under the system of decision making and appeals introduced in October 1999.
	Source:
	Figures taken from the AA/DLA computer system between quarter ending May 2000 and February 2002, 5 per cent. sample.
	Information about appeals against decisions on claims for Disability Living Allowance is not available for individual constituencies or for Scotland. For the figures for Great Britain, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 July, Official Report, col 96W. Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Benefit Payments

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicants for attendance allowance in (a) the Argyll and Bute constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom (i) were granted on first application, (ii) were rejected on first application, (iii) appealed against rejection of first application, (iv) were granted on review and (v) were granted on appeal in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the tables. Information about appeals and unsuccessful claims is not available for individual constituencies or for Scotland. Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
	
		Outcome of first applications for Attendance Allowance (AA) over the last five years in the constituency Argyle and Bute and Scotland.
		
			  First applications Successful on first application Successful on review 
		
		
			 Argyle & 
			 Bute
			 2000/2001 600 500 — 
			 2001/2002 *500 *500 — 
			 Scotland
			 1997/1998 32,800 28,800 3,300 
			 1998/1999 29,400 26,700 2,000 
			 1999/2000 29,900 27,300 2,100 
			 2000/2001 30,400 28,500 800 
			 2001/2002 28,200 25,900 1,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures marked * are subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	3. ''—'' Denotes nil or negligible.
	4. Parliamentary constituency data is not available prior to 2000.
	5. Figures for reviews include reconsiderations under the system of decision making and appeals introduced in October 1999.
	Source:
	Figures taken from the AA/DLA computer system between quarter ending May 2000 and February 2002, 5 per cent. sample.
	
		Outcome of first applications for Attendance Allowance (AA) over the last five years in Great Britain.
		
			  Successful on first application Unsuccessful on first application 
		
		
			 1997/1998 296,168 116,805 
			 1998/1999 292,554 104,260 
			 1999/2000 281,447 96,815 
			 2000/2001 316,676 103,115 
			 2001/2002 292,141 89,130 
		
	
	Sources:
	ASD Information Centre 100 per cent. data taken from 100 per cent. extract of monthly management information system.
	Figures taken from the AA/DLA computer system between quarter ending May 2000 and February 2002,5 per cent. sample.
	
		Attendance Allowance appeals lodged at a first tier agency, cleared at the hearing and found in favour of the appellant in Great Britain.
		
			  Received Lodged Cleared at hearing Found in favour 
		
		
			 1 July—31 December 
			 2000 8,735 7,180 5,050 2,245 
			 1 Jan—31 December 
			 2001 12,055 11,870 10,800 5,030 
			 1 January—31 August 
			 2002 6,990 5,680 5,835 2,765 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change. Figures relating to June 2002 onwards will rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	3. Figures for 2002 are provisional.

Pensioner Benefits

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of pensioners eligible for benefits and entitlements in (a) Paisley, North, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

Ian McCartney: Such information as is available is shown in the table below. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are not available at constituency level.
	
		Table 1: Figures for Paisley North, Scotland and Great Britain.
		
			 Benefit Total recipients 
			  Paisley North Scotland GB 
		
		
			 State Pensions 11,200 911,000 11,147,400 
			 Minimum Income 
			 Guarantee (MIG) 3,000 182,700 1,746,200 
			 Attendance Allowance 
			 (AA) 1,700 129,200 1,291,400 
			 Winter Fuel Payment 
			 (WFP) 12,430 996,420 11,201,895 
			 Free TV licences 
			 (entitlement) 5,600 500,100 4,415,700 
			 Council Tax Benefit N/A 531,000 4,602,000 
			 Housing Benefit N/A 450,000 3,813,000 
		
	
	Sources:
	MIG—Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2002
	State Pensions—Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample from the Pensions Strategy Computer System at 30 March 2002.
	WFP—Figures from a 100 per cent. sample from the Winter Fuel Payment 2001/2002 Exercise
	Free TV Licence—Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample from the Client Group analysis of the population over state pension age as at 30th November 2001.
	Attendance Allowance—Figures from a 5 per cent. sample from the AA/DLA computer system as at February 2002
	Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit—Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock count taken in May 2002

Youth Unemployment (Paisley, North)

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployed 16 to 18-year-olds are registered in Paisley, North; and if he will list the actions being taken to assist them into employment.

Nick Brown: In August, there were 134 sixteen to eighteen-year-olds claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Paisley, North constituency, nearly 30 per cent. fewer than in the same month in 1997.
	16 and 17-year-olds making a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance in Paisley, North are required to register with Careers Scotland and participate in a learning focused meeting with a Careers Adviser. Jobcentre Plus works in partnership with Careers Scotland by actively promoting the education, training and employment services Careers Scotland offers to young people.
	18 year-olds making a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance are required to register with Jobcentre Plus and participate in a work-focused interview with a Personal Adviser. They will have access to the range of support provided through Jobcentre Plus to help them move into work.
	We are building on the success of the New Deals in helping nearly three-quarters of a million people move from welfare to work. We are providing more help for those who face the greatest barriers to work, providing more individually-tailored support, and engaging further with employers to ensure their needs are met. We are giving young people the skills, confidence and motivation to help them find work and improve their prospects of doing so.

Unclaimed Benefit

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the latest estimate is of unclaimed benefit in (a) Paisley, North, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested for the Paisley, North constituency and for Scotland is not available.
	Estimates of the number of families entitled to income related benefits but not claiming them in Great Britain are published in ''Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take-Up''. Copies of this annual publication are in the Library.
	Information on other benefits is not available.

Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; how many (a) men and (b) women reached state pension age in each year between 1995 and 2000 and (ii) are expected to reach state pension age in each year between 2006 and 2010.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Number of men and women reaching state pension age between 1995 and 2000.
		
			 Year Men Women 
			  Aged 65 Aged 60 
		
		
			 1995 262,000 288,000 
			 1996 265,000 294,000 
			 1997 261,000 296,000 
			 1998 252,000 301,000 
			 1999 253,000 304,000 
			 2000 260,000 299,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are mid year estimates of men aged 65 and women aged 60 in the UK, rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	Source:
	1991 UK Census based annual mid-year population estimates, Office for National Statistics.
	
		Table 2: Number of men and women reaching state pension age between 2006 and 2010.
		
			 Year Men Women 
			  Aged 65 Aged 60 
		
		
			 2006 256,000 350,000 
			 2007 277,000 447,000 
			 2008 302,000 412,000 
			 2009 317,000 386,000 
			 2010 314,000 373,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are mid year estimates of men aged 65 and women aged 60 in the UK, rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	2. No account has been taken of the change in female state pension age in 2010.
	Source:
	The Government Actuary's mid-2000 based Population Projections.

Pensions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the possibility of making private and company pensions compulsory.

Ian McCartney: Compulsion already exists in the pensions system. Most employees employed people are required to contribute to the Basic State Pension and, in the case of employees, to the State Second Pension unless they are contributing to a private pension and are contracted out of the state scheme.
	We recognise the role pension providers play in encouraging individuals to save for a pension. The UK has a tradition of voluntary pension provision by employers and the implications of moving away from that would have to be considered fully before such a step was taken. We continue to believe that the best route for pension saving is via the employer and with the introduction of stakeholder pensions most employees have access to a good value pension at the workplace.

Benefits (Portsmouth, South)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of pensioners eligible for benefits and entitlements in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Such information as is available is shown in the table below. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are not available at constituency level. Estimates of the number of pensioners eligible for but not claiming the MIG are not available below national level. These figures are included in the publication ''Take Up of Income Related Benefits: Statistics for 1999/2000'', copies of which are available in the Library.
	
		Table 1: Figures for Portsmouth South
		
			 Benefit Total recipients 
		
		
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 3,600 
			 State Pension 17,000 
			 Attendance Allowance 2,100 
			 Winter Fuel Payment 17,700 
			 Free TV Licence (entitlement) 6,700 
		
	
	Sources:
	MIG—Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2002
	Figures marked''*'' are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should be used as a guide to the current situation only
	State Pensions—Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample from the Pensions Strategy Computer System at 30 March 2002.
	AA Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample from the AA/DLA computer system at 28 February 2002.
	WFP—Figures taken from a 100 per cent. sample from the Winter Fuel Payment 2001/2002 Exercise
	Free TV Licence—Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample from the Client Group analysis of the population over state pension age as at 30 November 2001.

Benefits (Portsmouth, South)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of unclaimed benefits and entitlements in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available.

E-Applications (Benefits)

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which benefit application forms (a) are available on the internet for download and (b) can be filled in on a computer screen; and how many electronic application forms have been submitted over the internet for each relevant benefit during the last 12 months.

Ian McCartney: There are fifty-five benefit application forms available on the DWP Internet site for download, those marked (b) can be filled in on a computer screen.
	There is only one application form that can be submitted over the internet, the BR19 Pension Forecast request. 25,000 people have submitted this form to date.
	
		
			 Benefit Form name 
		
		
			 Attendance Allowance DS2A (b) DS2A-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Back to Work Bonus BTWB1 (b) BTWB1-print (a) Claim form 
			 Bereavement BB1 (b) BB1-print (a) 
			 Child Benefit CH2 (b) CH2-print (a) 
			 Child Maintenance Bonus CMB1 (b) CMB1-print (a) Claim form 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA1 (b) CSA1-print (a) Maintenance Application Form 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA 150 (b)CSA 150-print (a) Earnings details 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA1 (TC) (b) CSA1 (TC)-print (a) Tax Credits 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA3 (b) CSA3-print (a) Maintenance Enquiry Form 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA3 (IS) (b) CSA3 (IS)-print (a) Income Support 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA3 (TC) (b) CSA3 (TC)-print (a) Tax Credits 
			 Child Support Maintenance CSA6 (b) CSA6-print (a) Request for information from the Mortgage lender 
			 Disability Living Allowance DLA1A (b) DLA1A-print (a) Adult claim pack 
			 Disability Living Allowance DLA1A (b) DLA1A-print (a) Child claim pack 
			 Guardian's Allowance BG1 (b) BG1-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Housing Benefit and Council 
			 Tax Benefit NHB1(CTB) (b) NHB1(CTB)-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Housing Benefit and Council 
			 Tax Benefit NHB1(HB) (b) NHB1(HB)-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Incapacity Benefit IBY1 (b) IBY1-print (a) Non-contributory IB claim form 
			 Incapacity Benefit SC1 (b) SC1-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Income Support B16 (b) B16-print (a) Self-Employed/Sub-contractor 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100A (b) BI100A-print (a) Accident at work 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100B (b) BI100B-print (a) Prescribed industrial disease 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100C (b) BI100C-print (a) Chronic bronchitis etc 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100E (b) BI100E-print (a) Allergic rhinitis 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100-OA (b) BI100-OA-print (a) Occupational asthma 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100-OD (b) BI100-OD-print (a) Occupational deafness 
			 Industrial Injuries BI100-PN (b) BI100-PN-print (a) 
			 Industrial Injuries BI103 (b) BI103-print (a) Reduced Earnings Allowance 
			 Industrial Injuries BI104 (b) BI104-print (a) Constant Attendance Allowance 
			 Industrial Injuries BI95 (b) BI95-print (a) We need some information 
			 Invalid Care Allowance DS700(1) (b) DS700(1)-print (a) Claim form 
			 Invalid Care Allowance DS700(2) (b) DS700(2)-print (a) Extra money for a child or adult 
			 Maternity Allowance MA1 (b) MA1-print (a) Claim pack 
			 Retirement Pension BR1 (b) BR1-print (a) Claim form 
			 Retirement Pension BR19 (b) BR19-print (a) Pension Forecast Request Form 
			 Social Fund SF100(SM) (b) SF100(SM)-print(a) Sure Start Maternity Grant 
			 Social Fund SF200 (b) SF200-print (a) Funeral Payment 
			 Social Fund SF300 (b) SF300-print (a) Community Care Grant 
			 Social Fund SF401 (b) SF401-print (a) Crisis Loan 
			 Social Fund SF500 (b) SF500-print (a) Budgeting Loan 
			 Statutory Maternity Pay SMP1 (b) SMP1-print (a) Claim for Maternity pay 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA1 (b) WPA1-print (a) WDP claim form 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA1C (b) WPA1C-print (a) WDP Civilians & Civil Defence Volunteers 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA1M (b) WPA1M-print (a) WDP Mercantile Marine 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA2 (b) WPA2-print (a) WP Further Condition 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA3ALSO (b) WPA3ALSO-print (a) Allowance for Lowered Standard of Occupation 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA3CAA (b) WPA3CAA-print (a) Constant Attendance Allowance 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA3 CLOTHING (b) WPA3 
			 CLOTHING-print (a) Clothing Allowance 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA3WPMS (b) WPA3WPMS-print (a) War Pensions Mobility Allowance 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA3 UNSUPP (b) WPA3 UNSUPP-print (a) Unsupp Family 
			 War Widows Pension WPA4R (b) WPA4R-print (a) WWP after 2 marriage 
			 War Widows Pension WPA4WWP (b) WPA4WWP-print (a) Claim form 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA10 (b) WPA10-print (a) Funeral expenses 
			 War Disablement Pension WPA12 (b) WPA12-print (a) Review of WP 
			 Winter Fuel WF1 (b) WF1-print (a)

Winter Fuel Payments

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when and how the announcement to pay winter fuel payments to some people who have moved to a country within the European Economic Area was made; what steps his Department is taking to contact people who may be affected by the change; and what estimate has been made of the (a) annual and (b) one-off costs of the policy.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. David) on 19 July 2002, Official Report, column 599w. The changes were publicised through a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the media in relevant countries in Europe. In addition, we have taken steps to ensure that this information is available on the Department's website and in the new edition ot the Winter Fuel Payment leaflet, and have issued a factsheet to embassies in those countries affected. We will also be writing to people who have contacted the European Commission, claimed or recently enquired about Winter Fuel Payment for people who have moved to another EEA country or to Switzerland.
	We estimate the ongoing cost to be around #10 million and the one-off cost to be around #3 million.

Occupational Diseases (Benefits)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's review of the schedule of occupational diseases for which benefits are paid will be published.

Nick Brown: No further findings have been published by the Council since the reply given to my hon. Friend on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 857W.

Partnerships Against Poverty Group

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what organisations are represented on the Department's Partnerships Against Poverty Group; and what sub-groups have been established.

Malcolm Wicks: Partnerships Against Poverty was established in 2001. It is a joint initiative with the Local Government Association and voluntary organisations with the objective of working together to reduce poverty and tackle social exclusion amongst pensioners. There are two groups, one for England & Wales and another for Scotland which have specialist sub-groups for Black and Minority Ethnic elders and Pension Credit Implementation which feedback to both. In addition to DWP and LGA the following organisations are represented.
	Age Concern
	Age Concern Scotland
	Alzheimer Scotland
	Angus Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Chinese Community Centre
	Citizens Advice Scotland
	Confederation of Indian Organisations (UK)
	Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
	Cruse Bereavement Care
	Dundee City Council
	Durham City Council
	Edinburgh City Council
	Glasgow City Council
	Federation of Irish Societies
	Hackney Council for Older People
	Help the Aged
	Help the Aged Scotland
	Jewish Care
	London Irish Elders Forum
	Milan (Senior Welfare Council)
	National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
	National Pensioners Convention
	Northern Ireland Social Security Agency
	Royal National Institute of the Blind
	Scotland Office
	Scottish Executive
	Scottish Local Authority Welfare Rights Advisors
	South Lanarkshire Council
	Stirling Council
	Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
	The Poverty Alliance
	Welsh Assembly
	West of Scotland Seniors Forum
	West Indian Standing Conference
	West Lothian Council

Income-Related Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the income-related benefit take-up figures for 2000–01 will be released.

Nick Brown: On 27 September 2001, we announced our intention to commission further research in order to better identify people who are eligible for income-related benefits, especially pensioners.
	Estimates for income-related benefit take-up for 2000–01 will be published once this research has been concluded and evaluated. The publication date will be announced in due course in ''Updates'', the Office for National Statistics diary of statistical releases which is published monthly and placed in the Library.

Taunton

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of disability living allowance aged (a) over 18 years, (b) 16 to 18 years and (c) below 16 years there are in the Taunton constituency.

Maria Eagle: Recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) by age in the Taunton Constituency at February 2002 are as indicated in the following table.
	
		
			 Thousands 
			  Recipients aged 0–15 Recipients aged 16–18 Recipients aged 19 and over 
		
		
			 Taunton *0.4 *0.1 2.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures marked * are under 500 and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should only be used as a guide to the current situation.
	Source:
	ASD Information Centre from 5 per cent. sample at 28th February 2002

Taunton

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have been assisted in the Taunton One Stop offices since their opening.

Nick Brown: There are 13 ONE sites in Somerset providing a one stop service in addition to the call centre in Taunton. Information is held for the Somerset pilot rather than for individual offices. Since the pilot became fully operational in April 2000 until July 2002, 70,491 customers have been assisted (ie have had at least one interview with a Personal Adviser), in ONE in Somerset.

New Deal

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government have taken to encourage more employers to join the New Deal scheme.

Nick Brown: We have been successful in encouraging employers to support and participate in the New Deal. Over 99,000 employers have signed up to the New Deal and many more have taken on New Deal participants without signing up for the programme.
	We recognise the central role employers have to play in achieving our goal of creating and sustaining employment opportunities for all, and we are continually seeking to involve employers even further in the New Deal.
	This year we have taken steps to improve the flexibility of the New Deal to encourage employers to recruit more participants. For example, we have given employers more flexibility in the training they provide for New Deal clients. Employers can now give New Deal clients their own in-house training instead of having to offer external training which may not meet the needs of the job. Later this year we will be introducing ''Recruit'' into the New Deal for Young People. This will give small employers more payment flexibility in the Employment Option.
	In August 2001, we appointed 140 Local Account Managers in Jobcentre Plus to help improve the services provided to employers and to engage with more employers to increase job opportunities.
	The National Employment Panel (formerly known as the New Deal Task Force), which is an employer-led body, continues to provide Ministers with independent advice on the design, delivery and performance of the New Deals and our other welfare to work initiatives. The National Employment Panel Employer Coalitions ensure that employers can contribute to services at the regional and local level.
	With the advice and guidance of the National Employment Panel, we have developed Ambition initiatives to help unemployed and disadvantaged people, including those on the New Deal, gain the right skills to meet the specific needs of employers in key sectors, such as retail, construction, energy and information technology. These initiatives are employer-led and developed to employer specifications.

New Deal

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have found permanent employment as a result of New Deal for (a) long-term unemployed 25 plus, (b) lone parents, (c) disabled people and (d) 50 plus, in each year since these schemes have been introduced.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the tables.
	
		New Deal 25 plus
		
			  Total number of people moving into sustained jobs 
		
		
			 1998–99 10,010 
			 1999–00 23,810 
			 2000–01 22,010 
			 2001–02 28,410 
			 2002–03 (up to June 2002) 9,190 
		
	
	Note:
	A sustained job in New Deal 25 plus is defined as one lasting more than 13 weeks.
	
		New Deal for Disabled People
		
			  Total number of people moving into sustained jobs 
		
		
			 2001–02 245 
			 2002–03 (up to July 2002) 706 
		
	
	Notes:
	A sustained job in New Deal for Disabled People is defined as one lasting 26 weeks out of a 39 week period. New Deal for Disabled People was launched nationally in July 2001. Prior to that, pilots beginning in September 1998 had helped 8,242 people into jobs (sustained and unsustained).
	Separate data for sustained jobs are not available for New Deal 50 plus or New Deal for Lone Parents. The figures for these programmes which follow therefore relate to all people moving into jobs.
	
		New Deal 50 plus
		
			  Total number of people moving into jobs 
		
		
			 2000–01 33,020 
			 2001–02 33,960 
			 2002–03 (up to June 2002) 8,340 
		
	
	
		New Deal for Lone Parents
		
			  Total number of people moving into jobs 
		
		
			 1998–99 7,240 
			 1999–00 38,300 
			 2000–01 44,600 
			 2001–02 46,920 
			 2002–03 (up to June 2002) 15,170 
		
	
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

G8 Summit

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome for heavily indebted countries of the recent G8 summit.

Clare Short: At the Summit in Kananaskis, last July, the G8 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the full financing of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The G8 agreed to provide their share of up to an additional US$1 billion for the HIPC Trust Fund. This will help meet the current shortfall in the financing of the Initiative, and ensure that those countries whose debt positions have worsened because of the global economic slowdown and falls in commodity prices will get enough debt relief to enable them to exit the HIPC process with sustainable levels of debt.
	At the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF held at the end of last month in Washington, the international community welcomed the continued progress made on the HIPC Initiative, and reconfirmed their commitment to its implementation and full financing. Some donors, including the UK took the opportunity to pledge their firm support for the HIPC Trust Fund. The UK announced a bilateral contribution of US$95 million plus its share of any EDF contribution to the Trust Fund. This is in addition to the US$306 million which we have already committed. Germany are contributing US$100 million and Sweden US$21 million. The US are considering a contribution of US$230 million, many other countries said they would announce their contributions later this month.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial target has been set for the Solidarity Fund on poverty in poorer countries agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development; how the Government intends encouraging voluntary contributions to the fund; and whether these will be from (a) business and (b) civil society.

Clare Short: The modalities of the world solidarity fund to eradicate poverty and promote social and human development will be determined by the General Assembly of the United Nations based on the Report of the Secretary-General of 2 July 2002. The Report of the Secretary-General recommends that,
	''The world solidarity fund would receive voluntary contributions in cash and in kind from individuals, foundations, organisations and business sector enterprises and would not duplicate existing operational programmes and modes of intervention. It would not receive funding the effect of which would be to divert the flow of funding allocated to official development assistance.''
	No financial target has been set for the world solidarity fund. The Government does not intend to contribute to this fund and does not currently have any plans to encourage voluntary contributions. We do not believe that the creation of a new funding mechanism is the most appropriate and efficient way to increase the resources available for development. There are already too many development channels operating in developing countries. This places burdens on developing country administrations coping with the different demands and procedures of different aid delivery mechanisms.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the achievement of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in addressing commodity prices; and how this will relate to the 2015 millennium development goals.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 416W.
	A major outcome of WSSD is that it reaffirmed many of the commitments made at recent global conferences, including New York, Doha and Monterrey. In particular the text agreed at WSSD endorsed the Doha commitment on issues to be considered in the new trade round. This sends a strong signal for the need to reduce perverse subsidies (such as agricultural subsidies) as well as other obstacles to development such as high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the achievement of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in further debt cancellation in the developing world; and how this will relate to the 2015 millennium development goals.

Clare Short: At the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development, participants reaffirmed their commitment to reducing the debt burden of the poorest most indebted countries. The Summit supported the Monterrey Consensus on external debt, recognising the need for the speedy implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the full financing of the HIPC Trust Fund to help the Multilateral Development Banks meet their share of HIPC costs. Since then, at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, Ministers stressed the urgency of meeting the financing shortfall, which could be up to US$1 billion, and called on donor countries to make firm pledges and contributions as soon as possible. Savings from debt relief are used towards the financing for the poverty reduction strategies that HIPC countries are developing with civil society and donors. However, debt relief alone, no matter how generous, cannot ensure that the Millennium Development Goals will be met. This will require substantial additional donor resources as well as other measures, such as improvement of health through the Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, increasing the availability of education through higher quality and quantity of spending, and trade reform.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the specific target reached on water and sanitation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development will relate to existing policies on the 2015 millennium development goals.

Clare Short: The World Summit on Sustainable Development placed poverty eradication at the heart of efforts to achieve sustainable development. The central focus of this Government's policy on international development, first set out in the White Paper on International Development in 1997 and reaffirmed in the second White Paper in 2000, is a commitment to the internationally agreed target to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015, together with the associated targets including those relating to water and sanitation.
	My Department's strategies for achieving the international development targets in the water sector are set out in the March 2001 paper ''Addressing the Water Crisis—healthier and more productive lives for poor people''. DFID has been at the forefront of efforts to promote international acceptance of the new sanitation target agreed internationally at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Better management of water resources, access to safe water and basic sanitation with hygiene promotion are key contributors to poverty reduction and other development objectives.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the agreement made on trade at the World Summit on Sustainable Development will relate to the 2015 Millennium Development goals.

Clare Short: The Plan of Implementation agreed at the World summit on Sustainable Development provided a strong reaffirmation of the agreement on a ''development agenda'' at the 4 Ministerial Conference of the WTO at Doha, Qatar. The commitments made in Doha and again at the WSSD can potentially generate significant benefits for developing countries. The Ministerial resulted in an agreement on the need to reduce (with a view to phasing out) subsidies and barriers to trade in agriculture. Agreement was also reached on continuing negotiations on service and commitment to tackle tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff escalation as well as non-tariff barriers to manufactured goods. The declaration on TRIPS recognised the need for a flexible interpretation of TRIPS to enable developing countries to protect public health during crises such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic Southern Africa.
	The outcome of Doha represents a real achievement for developing country negotiators. As a recent joint paper on Market Access by the World Bank and IMF points out, estimates of the welfare gains from eliminating barriers to merchandise trade, range between $250 billion and $620 billion annually with about one-third to one-half accruing to developing countries. This is several times what developing countries receive in development assistance.
	However, this is not yet a Development Round – it is a development agenda and is only the beginning of negotiations. To make it a real Development Round we will need to work to ensure that these commitments made become a reality.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the Anglo-France Euro100 million fund to guarantee business ventures in developing countries agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development will be established; for how long will it operate; how businesses will be seconded; to whom it will be accountable; and how the fund will relate to the 2015 Millennium development Goals.

Clare Short: There will be no single fund. DFID will use a number of facilities, some of which are in existence and some of which are now being developed, through which to channel our funds. The French propose, in the main, to use other channels for their inputs. We will, however, work to coordinate inputs at the country and project level. It is also hoped that we may be able to persuade the French to channel some of their funds to the mechanisms we are developing with others, through which DFID funds will be disbursed.
	There is no finite life to the various facilities we are developing through which our funds will be disbursed, but we are planning to channel Euro100 million through these over the coming three years.
	The involvement of the private sector at the fund level will vary from facility to facility. At the project level, the funds will help to partner and/or guarantee (depending on the facility) private sector investment to help mitigate risks and encourage increased private sector flows.
	Copies of the joint statement by President Chirac and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, together with Annexes describing the British and French approach to the initiative, have been placed in the library of the House.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the changes she will make in her Department's (a) policies and (b) spending plans in response to the recent UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg

Clare Short: The World Summit on Sustainable Development placed poverty eradication at the heart of efforts to achieve sustainable development. It brought together the agreements made at the Millennium Summit in September 2000, the Doha meeting of the World Trade Organisation in November 2001 and the Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey in March 2002. It integrated sustainability into the existing international agenda and added some important new targets, such as the target of halving the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015.
	My Department will continue to focus on improving the effectiveness of the international development effort to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. My Department will work with other Government Departments for a round of trade negotiations focused on making the international trade system fairer to developing countries, and will work to ensure that the commitments made at Monterrey on increasing the levels, and improving the effectiveness, of official development assistance are delivered.
	The agreement of a new target on access to basic sanitation should lead to effective implementation through sector wide support on sanitation. In addition, water resource management, access to safe water, hygiene promotion and basic sanitation are key contributors to poverty reduction and other development objectives.
	The spending plans of my Department have not changed as result of the World Summit. Following the recently announced 2002 Spending Review settlement, the UK's level of Official Development Assistance (ODA) will increase by #1.5 billion to reach 0.40 per cent. of national income by 2005–06. This is the highest UK ODA/GNI level for over twenty years, marks a 93 per cent. real terms increase since 1997 and represents significant progress towards meeting the UN target of an ODA/GNI ratio of 0.7 per cent. By 2005–06, we will also have more than met the target for aid volume set at Monterrey.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the Transparency Initiative on cooperation on anti-corruption in developing countries announced at the WSSD will be introduced; how many corporations have indicated a willingness to comply; how many firms will have to refuse to comply before the initiative becomes compulsory; and at what stage corrupt corporations delisting from the stock exchange would be sanctioned.

Clare Short: At the World Summit for Sustainable Development the Prime Minister announced a partnership of governments, companies, international development agencies and NGOs which would work together to develop an initiative to promote transparency of payments in resource extractive companies.
	Natural resources are a vital asset for many developing countries and the global community has a responsibility to work together in order that the revenues generated by these resources are managed in an effective and transparent manner. The initiative aims to empower countries to make informed choices about their natural resource use in support of long-term sustainable development. This is intended to provide a virtuous circle of good governance, stability and investment that will benefit everyone.
	At this stage the formal partners to the initiative are:
	Governments: United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Indonesia and The Central African Republic;
	Resource extractive companies: BP, Shell, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Anglo American;
	NGOs: Global Witness, Tear Fund, The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Save the Children;
	Intergovernmental Institutions: World Bank and the UN
	The partners have committed to develop a framework to promote transparency of payments from companies to host-country governments. This will help to improve government management of the revenue through their budget. Research currently being undertaken by the World Bank will provide the technical basis for the framework. Multi-stakeholder discussions are underway to develop a project strategy and timeline. We expect that the framework will be completed in the spring of 2003.
	All options for achieving transparency will be considered, including both voluntary and mandatory approaches, and a decision taken by all partners to the initiative after a full appraisal of the evidence. This process is likely to cover many of the issues raised by the hon. Member.
	The partnership is neither closed nor exclusive and the UK will be actively engaged in trying to bring other governments and civil society organisations on board. To this end preparations are underway to host an international meeting involving all existing and prospective partners to this initiative.

HIV/AIDS

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what future plans she has to help tackle HIV/AIDS in Southern African countries.

Clare Short: The Department for International Development is strongly committed to tackling HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. We are working through national AIDS councils, and directly with ministries, civil society and the private sector. We are supporting efforts both to prevent the spread of the disease, and to care for those living with the disease and their families as well as children orphaned as a result of AIDS. Large new commitments to combat HIV/AIDS (totalling #71 million) include assistance to Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
	As well as our specific support to HIV/AIDS initiatives, we aim to ensure that all our work in the region addresses the impact of HIV/AIDS, which affects every area of development.
	Southern African countries will also benefit from access to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria to which we contribute, and from our work with international partners and the pharmaceutical industry to reduce the cost of medicines in lower income countries. Investments we have made in vaccine development and microbicides should also benefit Southern Africa in the future.

HIV/AIDS

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the Government plans to implement the Accord on Patents for drugs in poorer countries, with particular reference to HIV/AIDS drugs; and how this will relate to the recent Doha developments on patented drugs.

Clare Short: The Ministerial declaration on the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) and Public Health agreed last November in Doha, recognised the need for a flexible interpretation of TRIPS to enable developing countries to protect public health.
	The Doha Declaration was a major achievement, but the International Community have to meet their commitments if the declaration is to lead to an improvement in poor people's access to medicines. In particular, an effective and workable solution must be found to the problem of how developing countries with insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector are to make effective use of compulsory licensing, by the agreed December 2002 deadline.

Zimbabwe

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the process by which farm workers' organisations in the UN World Food Programme monitors those forced off farms in Zimbabwe; and what steps the Government are taking to meet their humanitarian needs.

Clare Short: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Millennium Development Goals

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if, as a result of the G8 talks, she estimates that the UK will be on target to meet the millennium development goals; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the most recent G8 meeting on the capacity of the UK Government to meet its millennium development goals; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 19 September 2002, Official Report column 415W.

Millennium Development Goals

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the United Kingdom is on target to meet its millennium development goals.

Clare Short: Latest forecasts from the World Bank suggest that globally, meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 is attainable. There has been progress. The proportion of people living on less than $1 a day in the developing world fell from 29 per cent. in 1990, to 23 per cent. in 1999.
	Progress has also been made against almost all the other 2015 Millennium Development targets. The proportion of children completing a full course of primary school increased from 68 per cent. to 73 per cent.; the under-five mortality rate decreased from 88 to 84 deaths per 1,000 births; and the proportion of people with access to an improved water source increased from 73 per cent. to 79 per cent.
	However, to meet all of the Millennium Development Goals we must do more. The Sub-Saharan African region presents the biggest challenge to meeting the Goals. We therefore need to make an enormous effort internationally to accelerate progress in Africa. My Department is doing everything possible to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
	A detailed description of progress towards all the Millennium Development Goals is contained in a recent World Bank publication: World Development Indicators 2002, which can be found at the following website:
	http://www.worldbank.org/data/wdi2002/worldview.pdf.

Girls Education

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent action she has taken to help promote education for girls in developing countries.

Clare Short: Since 1997 we have committed over #700 million to support sustainable primary education programmes, with a strong focus on gender equality. Over the past year we have also worked with the UN Girls' Education Initiative to ensure stronger collaboration and coordination among donors, including the European Union, the UN system, the World Bank and other international financial institutions.

Drought

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department is providing to the countries of Southern Africa affected by severe drought.

Clare Short: Since September 2001 we have committed #71.6 million in bilateral assistance for the humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa. In addition, the UK's share of assistance provided through the European Commission is about #17 million.

Famine

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assistance (a) the UK and (b) the EU has provided to tackle famine in Southern Africa; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Since September 2001, the UK has provided #71.6 million for food aid, logistical support and essential medicines for the six countries identified as having exceptional food shortages. As part of this effort we are also providing seeds and fertilisers to assist families to plant for the coming cropping season.
	The EU has committed Euro148.5 million to the same six countries since January 2002. The UK share of this, which is additional to the #71.6 million commitment above, is about #17 million.

Debt Repayments

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will press for the immediate suspension of debt repayments under the HIPC initiative for (a) Malawi, (b) Mozambique and (c) Zambia

Clare Short: Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia – which are among the very poorest countries in the world – have all qualified for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative. Malawi and Zambia have reached Decision Point, and are already receiving debt relief. Mozambique has passed Completion Point and is now receiving full debt relief. These countries have completed a full poverty reduction strategy paper setting out how resources, including savings from debt relief, will be spent, thereby ensuring the maximum possible impact on poverty reduction. To address the current food security problem in the region, the UK has provided #26.5 million in humanitarian relief to these three countries since September 2001.

Kiribati

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has given in the last five years to (a) education and (b) health projects in Kiribati.

Clare Short: 1. DFID has provided assistance in health and education to Kiribati in a number of different ways in the last 5 years. We:
	(a) have strengthened the management and teaching capacity of the Tarawa Technical Institute. (#713,000)
	(b) have provided advice on how best to strengthen the curriculum in primary schools, particularly in relation to English and the Kiribati language. (Visits from DFID advisers).
	(c) have supported the very successful local development theatre group Te Itibwerere. This has enabled them to act as a medium for delivering a wide range of development messages for people of all ages. Topics include HIV/AIDS awareness, health and sanitation, domestic violence and environmental issues. (#240,000).
	(d). are supporting Voluntary Services Overseas in a 2 year project (until March2004) to tackle HIV/AIDS and social education issues. The project will increase the impact and effectiveness of civil society and government responses to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (#144,000).
	2. The UK is also contributing to EC programmes in Kiribati. 12 million euros were allocation for the period 1995–2001. Interventions include an allocation of 1.6 million euros for a national training programme to provide in-country training to meet Kiribati's manpower needs and skills requirements. A second phase of the programme, costing 6.4 million euros, will be implemented to provide outer island adults and school leavers with the skills, needed for employment. This 5 year programme will also further strengthen the Tarawa Technical Institute and extend its activities to the outer islands. The health sector, particularly outer island primary health care, may become the focus for future cooperation between Kiribati and the EC under the Cotonou Agreement.

Bilateral Aid

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list her Department's total expenditure to (a)  UNFPA for 2001–02, (b) WHO Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (vi) 2001–02, (c) UNICEF (SRH) for (i) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02, (d) UNAIDS for 2001–02, (e) IPPF for 2001–02, (f) MSI for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (vi) 2001–02, (g) Population Concern for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (vi) 2001–02, (h) IFH for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (vi) 2001–02, (i) bilateral aid by sector health (health and population)—including project, programme, technical, grants, humanitarian aid and CDC investments 2001–02 and (j) bilateral aid for sexual and reproductive health and rights—including project, programme, technical, grants, humanitarian aid and CDC investments for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000, (v) 2000–01 and (vi) 2001–02.

Clare Short: The figures requested are set out in the two tables below. Details of sectoral funding to multilateral organisations is not held centrally and to provide it in the format requested would be at disproportionate cost. However total DFID funding to the relevant organisations has been provided:
	
		# thousand 
		
			 Name 2001/02 2000/01 1999/00 1998/99 1997/98 1996/97 
		
		
			 UNFPA 24,213 40,050 15,000 13,120 11,500 10,000 
			 WHO 41,348 75,110 20,300 8,091 12,099 11,619 
			 UNICEF 28,000 2,269 29,143 10,461 9,241 13,847 
			 UNAIDS 3,052 3,000 3,000 2,750 2,300 3,500 
			 IPPF 4,500 5,500 5,500 5,500 5,850 7,850 
			 MSI 2,554 5,132 4,945 4,235 3,103 3,202 
			 Population Concern 476 – 649 114 400 806 
			 IFH 329 508 773 1,151 1,175 762 
		
	
	
		Bilateral Aid by Health & Population Sector -- # thousand
		
			  Financial Aid (Excl ATP)Other Programmes 
			   Project or Sector Aid Programme Aid Technical Cooperation Grants and Other Aid in Kind Humanitarian Assistance Total DFID Programme CDC Investments 
		
		
			 Health and Population 1997/98 21,435 25 59,723 37,871 954 116,758 683 
			  1998/99 27,826 0 59,475 46,846 551 134,698 0 
			  1999/00 36,011 0 75,058 50,295 6,744 168,108 0 
			  2000/01 53,799 0 78,819 50,080 1,509 184,217 6,145 
			  2001/02 55,779 0 100,016 33,756 64 189,616 7,794 
			 of which 
			 Reproductive Health Care 1997/98 897 0 9,661 8,757 0 19,315 0 
			  1998/99 1,321 0 4,732 2,930 0 8,983 0 
			  1999/00 1,894 0 7,754 4,608 0 14,256 0 
			  2000/01 1,542 0 7,700 4,679 0 13,921 0 
			  2001/02 896 0 9,474 2,624 0 12,994 0 
			 Family Planning 1997/98 1,237 0 8,922 6,212 0 16,371 0 
			  1998/99 919 0 7,202 15,282 0 23,402 0 
			  1999/00 520 0 8,826 12,173 0 21,519 0 
			  2000/01 2,493 0 12,824 12,016 0 27,333 0 
			  2001/02 2,554 0 11,767 10,433 0 24,754 0 
			 STD Control Including HIV/AIDS 1997/98 1,555 3 4,980 4,021 0 10,560 0 
			  1998/99 1,830 0 6,630 4,654 0 13,113 0 
			  1999/00 996 0 8,653 4,972 112 14,733 0 
			  2000/01 342 0 7,680 6,290 0 14,312 0 
			  2001/02 3,938 0 15,536 4,998 0 24,472 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	These figures do not capture the full extent of our efforts in the health and population sector as they exclude expenditure on multisector projects, block funding to civil society organisations and general budget support.

Development Assistance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will provide a breakdown of the funding in (a) euros and (b) sterling equivalents, given by the Government in the last financial year in overseas aid, indicating the percentage and total of each that was expended (i) directly, (ii) through the United Nations agencies, (iii) through other international bodies, (iv) through the European Union and (v) through other means.

Clare Short: The figures requested on UK government spending on development assistance for 2001/02 are as follows;
	
		
			  # million Euro million % of Total Expenditure on Aid 
		
		
			 Total spent bilaterally 1,954 3,127 57 
			 Total spent via United 
			 Nations Agencies 238 381 7 
			 Total spent via European 
			 Commission 751 1,201 22 
			 Total spent via International 
			 Financial Organisations 331 529 10 
			 Total spent via Other 
			 International Organisations 48 77 1

Aid

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what means the European Court of Auditors has of examining the accounts of disbursing bodies of aid to developing countries in the relevant receiving states

Clare Short: The statement of Assurance sections of the Court of Auditor's Annual Report which relate to the External Actions budget lines and to the European Development Fund are based on an examination of representative random samples of contracts concluded by the Commission, drawn from the database and on payments made in the same year drawn from the Commission's central accounting system. The audit examines whether the transactions are legal and regular in accordance with the Financial Regulation. This work is supplemented by on the spot audits of transactions for which much of the documentary evidence is only available in the beneficiary countries. The Court of Auditors also examines the Commission's systems of procedures and controls to evaluate their theoretical and practical effectiveness.

Tsetse Control

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 25 February, what discussions she has had with the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Campaign, the FAO and the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources on Tsetse control and eradication programmes; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: On 9 and 10 September 2002, DFID hosted a meeting in Edinburgh under the aegis of its Animal Heath Research Programme, entitled ''Tsetse Control—the Next 100 Years''. The meeting brought together representatives of over thirty stakeholder organisations to the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC), including DFID, senior officials of the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the wider research community, the European Commission and PATTEC itself.
	The Regional Co-ordinator of PATTEC, Dr. John Kabayo, has asked to meet DFID's Chief Natural Resources Adviser when he is next in London. Apart from this we are not aware of any formal request from PATTEC to hold discussions with bilateral donors, although we have made it clear that we would be pleased to discuss the campaign's preliminary proposals at a technical level.
	DFID is in regular dialogue with the FAO's Animal Production and Health Division and with the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources through our ongoing programmes of support to those organisations. Neither has substantively raised the issue of PATTEC with us.
	We remain unconvinced that the scientific and economic theories for the eradication of tsetse flies from Africa on which PATTEC's original proposals were founded are yet proven. Our view is that efforts should focus on tsetse and trypanosomiasis control rather than eradication for the foreseeable future. This is consistent with the consensus of the Edinburgh meeting and more recent statements by the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) and by PATTEC.

Kurdistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on her Department's decision on funding a hospital project to treat the victims of biological and chemical weapons attacks in Kurdistan.

Clare Short: My Department recently decided not to fund such a project, for technical and strategic reasons.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which UN agencies her Department supports are working in Iraq; and what level of financial commitment her Department makes to these programmes

Clare Short: The principal UN agencies working in Iraq with the Oil for Food Programme are UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP, WHO, UNESCO, UNOCHI, UNHCR, FAO, UNIDO and Habitat. My Department does not give any of these agencies earmarked funding for their Iraq programmes, but supports most of them globally. In addition, the United Nations Guards Contingent for Iraq (UNGCI) is mandated to protect UN personnel, operations and assets involved in the humanitarian programme in Northern Iraq. As part of a joint donor effort, my Department is contributing #0.25 million in support of the UNGCI's work over financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what preparations her Department has made to deal with the humanitarian consequences of possible war in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department does regular contingency planning for a variety of potential humanitarian emergencies around the world, and maintains constant preparedness to respond to such events.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what arrangements are in place for consultation between her Department and the Ministry of Defence before any plans for war against Iraq are agreed.

Clare Short: My Department consults regularly with the Ministry of Defence on a range of issues at official and ministerial level.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department provides to (a) refugees, (b) women and (c) children in Iraq, broken down by region.

Clare Short: My Department is providing assistance for Iraqi refugees in Iran through AMAR International; for internally-displaced people in Northern Iraq through Response, Relief, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (4RS); for women in Northern Iraq through a 4RS income-generating project; and for children in Northern Iraq through Save the Children-UK and ACORN. In addition, other NGO activities funded by my Department in both Northern and Central/Southern Iraq include women and children among their beneficiaries.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's strategy is for providing humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq.

Clare Short: The purpose of my Department's humanitarian programme in Iraq is to reduce suffering among the Iraqi people. The programme supports and complements the UN's Oil for Food Programme by working with NGOs and other international organisations.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the obstruction of humanitarian relief and levels of human rights abuses committed by Saddam Hussein against the Iraqi people.

Clare Short: My Department monitors this situation through information obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other sources, which was most recently summarised in part 3 of the dossier: ''Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Assessment of the British Government''.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with colleagues in (a) the European Union, (b) the United States and (c) the UN of the humanitarian impact of a possible war in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department is not actively discussing these issues with EU, US and UN colleagues at the moment.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the performance of the oil for food programme in providing humanitarian relief for the people of Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department has monitored information made available by the UN Office for the Iraq Programme on the operation of the Oil for Food (OFF) Programme, and by other UN agencies such as UNICEF on the impact of the OFF on humanitarian indicators. Our assessment is that since the introduction of the OFF in 1996, the declining humanitarian situation in central/southern Iraq has at best only been halted, although indicators have generally improved in the north. The long term impact of sanctions has contributed to a high dependence by many Iraqis on the OFF food ration.

Consultancy Contracts

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will list external (a) public relations/ commercial companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by her Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within her Department; and what cost have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Clare Short: Information in the format requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost but DFID has let consultancy contracts to a value of approximately #300 million in 2001–2002.

World Bank Group

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if, when carrying out her functions as Governor of the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, she has sole responsibility for instructing the UK Executive Director as to how to exercise the UK's vote on the board of the IFC; which other departments are involved in this role; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidelines exist concerning the manner in which instructions are given to the UK Executive Director as to how to exercise the UK's votes on the Board of the International Finance Corporation or on the Board of other of the World Bank Group institutions; if she will place such material in the library; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department is responsible for the UK Government's relations with the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC). We are represented on the Boards of the World Bank Group by the UK Executive Director or members of his staff in the UK Delegation to the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Washington. The UK Executive Director and his team take instructions from my department and receive guidance from, liaise closely with and report fully to my department and, as appropriate, other interested Whitehall departments and the Bank of England.
	All papers for consideration by the IFC Board are received by the UK Delegation and forwarded to DFID officials in London who consider these on the basis of agreed Government policy. If any issues arising in the papers appear controversial or are of particular interest, officials bring these to my attention or to the attention of other relevant government departments.
	The majority of papers are uncontroversial and we are content to support the recommendations of IFC management. Where necessary, DFID officials provide briefing and points for the UK Delegation to make in the Board discussion. As with the rest of the World Bank Group, nearly all Board decisions are taken on the basis of consensus, to reflect Board discussions, and decisions rarely go to direct votes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of dangerous substances and preparations is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of Directive 76/769/EEC on the restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Dangerous Substances and Preparations is expected to meet again later this year. UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations where there are items of sufficient interest. Members of the Scottish Executive have not attended any meetings so far, although as with other Committees of this type, discussion with them and the other devolved administrations is a continuous process during development of the UK position.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee on Statistics relating to the trading of goods with non member countries is due to meet on 14 and 15 November 2002.
	The legal basis for the collection of statistics relating to the trading of goods with non member countries is Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/95, which requires that statistics are collected on a UK wide basis.
	The UK is normally represented by two officials from HM Customs and Excise. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have never been and are not members of the Committee.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between member states is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee on Statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States is due to meet on 14 and 15 November 2002.
	The legal basis for the collection of statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States is Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91, which requires that statistics are collected on a UK wide basis.
	The UK is normally represented by two officials from HM Customs and Excise. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have never been and are not members of the Committee.

Telecommunications Masts

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she takes to monitor the installation of mobile telephone masts; and what steps she has taken to implement recommendation 1.37 of the Stewart report.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not routinely monitor the installation of mobile phone masts.
	Recommendation 1.37 of the Stewart report proposed that, at national Government level, a template of protocols be developed, in concert with industry and consumers, which can be use to inform the planning process and that it should be assiduously and openly followed before the granting of permission for the siting of a new base station.
	On 22 August last year, taking into account the recommendations in the Stewart Report published in May 2000 and following public consultation, the Government introduced changes that significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development. The changes:
	strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below so that they are the same as for planning applications
	increased the time for an authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days
	underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; and
	increased fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.

Telecommunications Masts

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to ensure that local authorities maintain a mast register of local installations; and how many local authorities have such a register.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's existing Code of Best Practice advises that local planning authorities should maintain a mast register of local installations. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently revising the Code of Best Practice.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not monitor how many local planning authorities have such registers.
	The Radiocommunications Agency has made information available to the public about existing mobile phone masts via their website (www.radio.gov.uk). The database, called ''Sitefinder'', gives map-based details about all operational mobile phone base stations and their emissions.

Microsoft

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the level of faults found in Microsoft products used by the UK Government in the last five years.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally.

Your Guide

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a Your Guide service will be rolled out nationally following a pilot of the concept in Leicestershire and Rutland between July 2001 and March 2002.

Stephen Timms: The pilot showed that Your Guide was popular but that its impact was limited. It would neither significantly improve Government Departments' ability to meet their objectives nor generate a viable level of income for Post Office Limited and its branches. A publicly funded Your Guide scheme would not therefore represent value for money and we have concluded that it should not be rolled out nationally.
	However, Your Guide has highlighted the potential for Government Departments to deliver services through post offices in future. There is also significant commercial interest in placing kiosks in post offices. A commercial kiosk service, based on kiosks in retail outlets—including some sub-post offices—is expected to be piloted in Cornwall from next year.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) meetings and (b) discussions between her Department and third parties have taken place at which the future of members of the board of British Energy has been discussed.

Patricia Hewitt: Appointments to the board of British Energy are a matter for the company and its shareholders.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the terms of the financial facility granted to British Energy that is due to expire on 27 September.

Patricia Hewitt: On 9 September 2002 the Government agreed to provide British Energy with a loan for up to #410 million in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for trading in the UK and North America. This short-term loan was put in place until 27 September. On the 26 September the Government agreed to extend the loan until 29 November and increase it from #410 million to up to #650 million as well as taking security for the loan over British Energy's assets.
	Full details of the agreement are commercially confidential unless and until it is made public by British Energy.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was first made aware of the statement to the Stock Exchange made by British Energy on 5 September 2001.

Patricia Hewitt: The Executive Chairman of British Energy, Robin Jeffrey, wrote to me on 4 September to inform me that the company's position was so critical that it had to consider whether or not it could continue to meet its obligations as they fell due. The possibility of a statement was raised in that letter. My officials met with the company on 4 and 5 September; the company decided to make a statement to the Stock Exchange at its Board meeting shortly after the meetings with my officials. My Department was made aware of the terms of the statement shortly before it was announced.

British Energy

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the position of British Energy.

Patricia Hewitt: On 4 September, Robin Jeffrey, the Chairman of BE informed me that the company was considering whether or not it could continue to meet its obligations and sought to initiate discussions over possible funding. On 5 September BE announced that it had initiated discussions with the Government about possible immediate financial support and to enable a longer term restructuring to take place. My Department issued a separate statement on that day confirming that these discussions had started. BE's statement also said that if discussions over financial support were not successful
	''the company may be unable to meet its financial obligations as they fall due and therefore the company may have to take appropriate insolvency proceedings''.
	The Government's overriding objectives are to ensure the safety of BE's nuclear plant and security of electricity supplies while protecting the interests of the taxpayer. My assessment was that immediate and sudden insolvency proceedings could pose a serious risk to nuclear safety and security of supply. It is essential for the safe operation of BE's nuclear power stations that the company has access to sufficient resources for it to fulfil its obligations under the nuclear, environmental and commercial regulatory regimes under which it operates. We have also been in discussions with the industry regulator, Ofgem about the risks that an unplanned shut-down of BE's plant may pose to security of supply.
	Having regard to nuclear safety and security of supply, I decided with the agreement of the Treasury to provide BE on 9 September with a loan of up to #410 million in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for trading in the UK and North America. This was a short-term loan, for the period until 27 September pending clarification of the company's financial position. No commitment was given about support beyond that period.
	During that initial period it became clear that it would not be possible to have a full understanding in detail of the company's position in a way that would enable choices to be made about future restructuring options. Following discussions with the company and its advisers, and in agreement with the Treasury, on 26 September I announced an extension to the loan, now increased in value up to a maximum of #650 million. The loan has been extended until 29 November in order to give sufficient time to clarify the company's full financial position and to come to a clear view on the future options for the company.
	In agreeing and extending the loan I have sought to build in the greatest safeguards to the taxpayer. The loan is cross-guaranteed by the BE group as a whole, and is backed by security given by BE plc and its principal subsidiaries. In administering the loan we have set out strict criteria and operational arrangements which are being managed by our accountancy advisers, Deloitte and Touche.
	In view of the urgency in this case, we have sought and obtained from HM Treasury a Contingencies Fund advance of #500 million to finance the loan, and subsequently a further advance of #150 million to fund the extension of the support. It is my intention to seek Parliamentary approval for the loan through a Winter Supplementary Estimate in order to provide the authority for this loan and hence repay the Contingencies Fund. It was not possible to give the House advance warning of the need to use the Contingencies Fund. The case was urgent and I judged it would clearly be contrary to the public interest to delay expenditure until Parliamentary approval to the Supplementary Estimate could be given, in view of the risks that immediate and sudden insolvency posed to nuclear safety and security of supply. The urgent need for the loan and extension were, however, communicated to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
	These arrangements have been given in compliance with the European Commission rules on Rescue and Restructuring aid and have been notified to the European Commission as rescue aid. EU State Aid rules normally require that within a period of 6 months from the authorisation of rescue aid that aid is either repaid or a restructuring plan is submitted to the Commission. We have indicated to the Commission that we intend to comply with these conditions.
	At this stage, no decisions have been taken on the future of BE and no commitments given. But whatever the outcome at the end of this period the Government will continue to act to achieve its objectives of nuclear safety, security of supply while protecting the interests of the taxpayer. I recognise the key ongoing role played by employees and suppliers who are providing goods and services essential to the safe management of the UK nuclear power stations.
	I will keep the House informed of future developments.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was first informed that there were concerns about the financial viability of British Energy.

Patricia Hewitt: Earlier this year, British Energy gave my Department information on some aspects of its financial position. The Executive Chairman, Robin Jeffrey wrote to me on 4 September to inform me that the company's position was now so critical that it had to consider whether or not it could continue to meet its obligations as they fell due.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the income received by British Nuclear Fuels Limited from its reprocessing contract with British Energy.

Patricia Hewitt: Details of commercial contracts are a matter for the two companies.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is her Department's policy to seek to require any successor body to British Energy to enter into a contract for reprocessing waste with British Nuclear Fuels Limited.

Patricia Hewitt: No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) meetings and (b) discussions between her Department and British Energy have taken place in which (i) the relationship between British Energy and British Nuclear Fuels Limited and (ii) the Climate Change Levy were raised.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department holds regular meetings with British Energy at which a wide range of issues is discussed.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on the Government's (a) expenditure and (b) liabilities in the event of British Energy being placed in administration.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government has provided British Energy with a loan facility of up to #650 million until 29 November. The impact on expenditure and liabilities in the event of British Energy being placed in administration would depend upon the circumstances at the time. No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports her Department has received from the Financial Services Authority into British Energy; and if she will place a copy of such reports in the Library.

Brian Wilson: The Department has not received any reports from the Financial Services Authority into British Energy.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) meetings and (b) discussions have taken place between her Department and shareholders in British Energy at which British Energy has been discussed.

Patricia Hewitt: No such meetings or discussions have taken place.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on the Government's policy of managing the nuclear legacy of British Energy being placed into administration.

Patricia Hewitt: No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the costs in this financial year to British Energy of the Climate Change Levy.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's advisers are looking at all aspects of British Energy's costs and revenues in order to clarify the company's full financial position.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) banks and (b) other companies in the financial sector with which her Department has had discussions about British Energy in the last 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department regularly meets with various banks and other companies in the financial sector to discuss a wide range of issues.

British Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on British Nuclear Fuels Limited of British Energy being placed in administration.

Patricia Hewitt: No decisions have been taken and no commitments give on British Energy's long term future at this time.

Energy White Paper

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish the Energy White Paper.

Patricia Hewitt: I plan to publish the Energy White Paper in the new year.

European Agency Workers Directive

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the cost to the (a) private and (b) public sectors of the proposed European Agency Workers Directive.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government is currently consulting UK business, unions and others on the impact of the proposed directive. We remain concerned that, as currently drafted the proposed directive would impose disproportionate cost and administrative burdens on business, and would reduce routes into employment for many workers. Our initial estimate of the cost to user undertakings of the proposed Temporary [Agency] Workers Directive, as currently drafted, is in the range from #250 million to #402 million, as stated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, which is available in the Libraries of the Houses. It is estimated that 21 per cent. of these costs would be borne by the public sector and 79 per cent. by the private sector. In addition, it is estimated that there are costs in the range of #80 million to #194 million which would be borne by private sector employment agencies.

Broadband Services

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households have access to broadband services in (a) Paisley, North and (b) the UK, expressed as a percentage of the population.

Stephen Timms: Almost all households in the UK can receive broadband through satellite technology. 63 per cent. currently have access via ADSL, with 43 per cent. having access via cable modem. Around 67 per cent. of the population has access via one or both of ADSL and/or cable modem.
	A map showing geographical availability of broadband services can be found in the UK Online Annual Report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/oee/oee.nsf/sections/reports-anrep2001-images/$file/fig01.pdf).
	The Government does not compile figures for broadband connections broken down into individual constituencies.

Broadband Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of households have access to broadband services in Portsmouth, South; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A map showing geographical availability of broadband services can be found in the UK Online Annual Report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/oee/oee.nsf/sections/reports-anrep2001-images/$file/fig01.pdf).
	The Government does not compile figures for broadband connections broken down into individual constituencies.

Broadband Services

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) homes and (b) businesses in the United Kingdom have broadband Internet access by (i) cable modem and (ii) ADSL; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Oftel's figures of September 2002, available on their website, reported that there were over 885,000 end users of broadband in the United Kingdom, of which over 490,000 were served by cable modem and 390,000 by ADSL. Since then, they have announced on 8 October that there are now in excess of one million users.
	Around 14 million homes can receive DSL services and 13.3 million can receive cable modem. No recent data for numbers of businesses with broadband access are readily available.

Correspondence

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to reply to the letter of 25 July from the hon. Member for Nottingham North regarding Nottingham S.M.E.E. Ltd. of Annon Court, Nottingham.

Patricia Hewitt: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Sainsbury replied on Friday 27 September 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 16 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. T. Walsh.

Patricia Hewitt: I replied on 24 September.

Correspondence

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she determines whether a letter from (a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member receives a reply personally signed by (i) her, (ii) other ministers in her Department and (iii) her officials.

Patricia Hewitt: I aim to reply personally to as many letters as I can but it is not possible to do this for all letters because of the large volume of correspondence addressed to me.
	Hon. Members receive replies from me, or other Ministers in my Department if the subject matter is one in which they have been closely involved.
	From time to time, when I am out of London, I will authorise my Private Office to sign letters on my behalf and other Ministers will do the same in their offices.
	Letters from members of the public are frequently delegated to an official to answer, in order to ensure that replies can be sent quickly.

Radioactive Material

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she has taken of the events of 11 September 2001 in formulating her policy on the number of movements of radioactive material.

Brian Wilson: Overall policy responsibility for the transport of radioactive material lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. Security for the transportation of nuclear material is regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. Security precautions for the transportation of nuclear material are kept under regular review. OCNS has reviewed all relevant precautions in the light of the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken in connection with nuclear material.

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she takes to ensure that the conduct of BNFL and its subsidiaries is consistent with Government policy, with particular reference to employment practices.

Brian Wilson: HMG sets the overall strategic direction for the company, but the day-to-day management is a matter for the Board. BNFL like all companies must comply with relevant employment laws. It is the job of BNFL management to ensure adherence to those laws.

Renewable Energy Sources

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying the change in the percentage of energy used derived from renewable sources in the last 12 months.

Brian Wilson: Total electricity generation from renewables and wastes in 2001 amounted to 10,099 GWh, 38 per cent. of which was from large scale hydro generation. Large scale hydro generation was 21 per cent. lower than in 2000 because of a low level of precipitation in the catchment areas, especially in winter 2000–01. As a result, renewable sources provided 2.6 per cent. of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom, 0.2 percentage points lower than in 2000. Generation from renewable sources other than hydro in 2001 was 12 per cent. higher than in 2000.

Renewable Energy Sources

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the UK will meet the target of 5 per cent. of electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2003.

Brian Wilson: As I explained in introducing the Renewables Obligation Order 2002 on 6 March, (Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, column 4), prospects of achieving a level of 5 per cent. by the end of 2003—a date proposed in a 1999 DTI consultation document—have been heavily dependent on the pace of new commissioning of projects awarded contracts under the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) and the comparable arrangements for Scotland. In practice, even with the Government's action to allow locational flexibility for NFFO contracts, the pace of new commissioning has been somewhat slower than had been hoped. As I said in March, the indications are that the target of a 5 per cent. contribution from renewables to electricity supplies will be delivered late.
	The Renewables Obligation, which came into effect from 1 April 2002, introduces new arrangements to ensure the long-term expansion of renewable energy in the UK. The Obligation is set to run for twenty-five years, and will provide an incentive for renewable energy expected to rise to some #1 billion per year by 2010–11. It is backed by #260 million direct Government support for renewables over the next three years. The Obligation is set at increasing levels for successive years, rising from 3 per cent. for 2002–3 to 10.4 per cent. for 2010–11. The level of the Renewables Obligation is 4.9 per cent. for 2004–5 and 5.5 per cent. for 2005–6.

Renewable Energy Sources

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress with increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the UK's electricity production in the last 12 months.

Brian Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewes.
	The capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources increased by 2.9 per cent. in 2001 to stand at 2.52 MW at the end of December 2001. As a result of new projects coming fully on-line under NFFO during 2001, generation from landfill gas increased by 14½ per cent. and generation from other biofuels (especially straw and poultry litter) increased by 63 per cent.

Renewable Energy Sources

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity is derived from renewable sources.

Brian Wilson: In 2001, renewable sources provided 2.6 per cent. of the electricity derived in the United Kingdom.

Renewable Energy Sources

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the progress of the Government towards meeting its target of acquiring 10 per cent. of power from renewable sources.

Brian Wilson: The Department collects regular statistical data on the output of different forms of energy including renewables.
	The forthcoming Energy White Paper will assess in full our prospects for achieving the 10 per cent. target.

Renewable Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for Women what estimate she has made of the level of new conventional electricity generating plant needed to back up the anticipated increase in wind turbine and other climate-dependent renewable energy sources.

Brian Wilson: Every electricity system has to have some spare capacity to deal with peaks and troughs in demand. To a considerable extent, this inbuilt flexibility also enables an electricity system to cope, without significant additional cost, with a proportion of intermittent supply alongside a proportion of non-intermittent supply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Appendix to Chapter 7 of the Energy Review produced by the Performance and Innovation Unit of the Cabinet Office (PIU) in February 2002. This reports the outcome of a survey conducted for the PIU on costs associated with intermittent generation.
	The consultants employed by the PIU found that, as a rough rule of thumb, while the share of electricity supplies contributed by intermittents (for example, wind energy) remained below about 5 per cent., the system costs would be insignificant. With a share between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent., they estimated that costs might start to rise to about 0.1p/kWh. Costs would continue to increase beyond 10 per cent., perhaps rising to about 0.2p/kWh, should intermittents provide 20 per cent. of electricity.
	We are considering the PIU's conclusions, as well as responses to our consultation on energy policy, as we develop the forthcoming Energy White Paper. Work is being undertaken, in particular, to improve our understanding of the complete spectrum of network-related costs arising as the share of supplies provided by intermittents rises above 10 per cent.

Renewable Energy

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to increase access to export credit assistance for overseas renewable energy projects; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have recently launched an initiative to stimulate and facilitate exports of renewable energy sector goods and services to emerging markets. This Renewables Initiative was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 2 September 2002 in Mozambique on his way to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
	From April 2003, ECGD will make available cover for at least #50 million of exports each year for projects in the renewables sector which meet its minimum risk standards. ECGD will also support the DTI's Trade Promoters' outreach programme to stimulate exports of renewable energy goods and services to emerging markets. These activities form part of the Government—wide drive to encourage the development of power generation from renewable resources.
	It is hoped that this initiative will:
	Encourage UK entrepreneurs to develop and then export renewable energy goods and services and to offer them insurance against the risks of nonpayment;
	Assist more overseas countries to meet their power generation requirements in a sustainable way by providing finance at attractive commercial rates linked to UK involvement;
	Slow down the onset of, and possibly reduce the impact of, climate change resulting from greenhouse gas generation.

Renewable Energy

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of export credit assistance given by her Department and associated non-departmental public bodies for renewable energy projects was in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The figures for the years in which ECGD has supported renewable energy projects since 1992 are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Business Amount # Million 
		
		
			 1993/94 7.8 
			 1994/95 17.1 
			 1995/96 7.7 
			 1996/97 1.4 
			 1997/98 6.4

Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government will make on a timetable to phase in a substantial increase on renewable energy agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development; and how this will relate to the 2015 millennium development goals.

Brian Wilson: At the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Government supported the European Union proposal that renewables should contribute 15 per cent. of total energy use by 2010, but, in the event, no specific timetable for the expansion of renewables was agreed. All parties nevertheless accepted the urgent need to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global mix.
	The Government's Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) will help developing countries limit greenhouse gas emissions by making available at least #50 million of cover for creditworthy exports from April 2003 in the renewable energy sector. The ECGD will participate in an outreach programme, run by DTI's Trade Promoters and the private sector, to stimulate exports of renewable energy goods to emerging markets to help overcome the low level of renewables applications.
	The UK initiated the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), which aims to foster international collaboration in order to accelerate the growth of markets in modern renewables and energy efficiency, so as to lower costs and facilitate the removal of other policy, technology, market and regulatory barriers. We launched this in Johannesburg, and in the coming months the UK Government shall be working to develop this in conjunction with other partners including the Governments of Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and New Zealand, as well as Shell, the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy and WWF. The REEEP will work to keep renewable energy and energy efficiency high on the global political agenda.
	The Government's renewable energy policy will contribute to section IV of the United Nations Millennium Declaration ''Protecting our common environment'', to support sustainable development, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and lessen the threat that diminishing resources will no longer meet the needs of future generations. As the REEEP objective for lowering the costs of renewable energy is achieved, renewable energy technologies will become more affordable energy options for the poor. This will contribute towards improving access to energy services, which is important to achieving the Millennium Development Goals including the halving of global poverty by 2015.
	Domestically, the Government has set a target of obtaining 10 per cent. of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Sourcing 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources could result in annual savings of around 2.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2010. The Renewables Obligation, which came into force on 1 April 2002, will provide the driving force for the expansion of renewable energy in the UK. Licensed electricity suppliers will be required to obtain specified proportions of their electricity from renewable sources. The proportion will rise each year to reach the 10 per cent. target by 2010.
	Increasing the market share of renewable energy is currently being considered in the context of the work being undertaken for the Government's forthcoming White Paper on the UK's future energy policy. This will be published around the start of 2003.

Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will publish the results of her Department's review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the submissions which were made to that review;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the outcome of her meetings with enforcement authorities, industry representatives and others, to discuss improved enforcement of the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, indicating the dates of those meetings and the organisations represented at them.

Melanie Johnson: Last year the Department consulted with a wide range of interested parties about the effectiveness of the Regulations. I looked carefully at the results and concluded that their main concern was on improving the enforcement of the Regulations.
	To take matters forward I held two meetings with representatives from enforcement and industry.
	I was very encouraged by the progress made in both meetings. Enforcement is the key issue to ensure that consumers can be confident that the furniture they buy meets UK safety standards.

EU Structural Funds

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is towards re-nationalisation of parts of the EU Structural Funds post 2006;
	(2)  if the Government will bring forward proposals for a stronger urban dimension to future EU regional policy;
	(3)  what the Government's policy is towards the development of a stronger EU regional policy for (a) new and (b) current member states after 2006;
	(4)  if she will make it her policy that a similar amount of money to that received by UK regions in 2000 to 2006 would be made available by national Government for comparable purposes if EU regional policy was renationalised.

Alan Johnson: Although the debate on the future of European cohesion policy post-2006 has already started, very few national governments have so far committed themselves to a particular position. The Government intends to play a full part in this debate and we will shortly be launching a consultation to inform our position.
	The debate has to be seen in the context of the Government's objective to improve regional and national economic performance. Following the 2002 spending review, the Government agreed a new focus for regional policy: to improve the economic performance of all regions and over the long term to reduce the persistent gaps in growth rates between them. The Government is committed to pursuing the necessary policies to achieve this target.
	A key issue informing the Government's position in the debate will be the added value of the Structural Funds i.e. the extent to which this source of funding has delivered benefits over and beyond those which could have been achieved through national measures. We are collaborating with other Departments and the Devolved Administrations on research into this and other issues.
	Cohesion policy has always been focused on the poorest parts of the EU and the forthcoming enlargement will therefore require a fundamental review of the policy and its application. It is clear that in future there must continue to be transfers from the richer states to the poorer, and in particular to the candidates currently negotiating for accession. However, it is too early to draw any conclusions about the overall size of the Structural Funds budget, the priorities it should address or the future distribution of the Funds amongst the Member States.

EU Structural Funds

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the projected nuclear liabilities bill is accounted for by the need to clean up and remediate radioactively contaminated land at nuclear sites.

Brian Wilson: As the White Paper explains, on current estimates the total undiscounted cost of cleaning up the nuclear legacy is some #48 billion. Of this figure, 43 per cent. is the projected cost associated with decommissioning, and 47 per cent. is the projected cost associated with the processing, storage and final disposal of waste and the environmental restoration of radioactively contaminated land. The remaining 10 per cent. represents the cost of licence compliance, site infrastructure and corporate management.

EU Structural Funds

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with reference to paragraphs 4.8 to 4.10 of Cm 5552, on managing the nuclear legacy, if she will make it her policy not to appoint current employees of BNFL to the Liabilities Management Authority board.

Brian Wilson: No decisions have been taken on appointments to the LMA Board. As the White Paper makes clear, appointments will be made according to the rules set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA).

EU Structural Funds

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her best estimate is of the transfer value of (a) Thorp and (b) SMP, if set in place under CM5552, Managing the Nuclear Legacy.

Brian Wilson: Transfer of assets from BNFL will be made on a basis which reflects their value at the time the transfer is made.

EU Structural Funds

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the assets and liabilities allocated to the proposed Liabilities Management Authority will be (a) subject to safeguards and (b) actively safeguarded by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Brian Wilson: The Government's policy is that all civil nuclear material in the UK should be subject to safeguarding requirements. This policy will apply in relation to all material held at sites for which the LMA is responsible.

Energy Review

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responses have been received on the PIU Energy Review and when the expected White Paper will be published.

Brian Wilson: The Government has launched a consultation on energy policy, which includes consideration of the findings of the PIU Energy Review, with a view to publishing a White Paper around the turn of the year. We are posting replies to the consultation on the DTI's web site.

Nuclear Industry

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 23 July, ref 70369, what definition she gives to the materials that are to be transported from Japan to Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: The material is unused Mixed Oxide Fuel.

Nuclear Industry

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply dated 23 July, ref 70369, what future use she plans for the material being transported from Japan to Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: This is a matter for BNFL. I understand there are a number of options under consideration for re-use of the fuel.

Nuclear Industry

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many shipments of nuclear materials from which she believes reusable materials may be recovered are expected to be made by sea to Sellafield within the next two years.

Brian Wilson: The timing, numbers and nature of deliveries under reprocessing contracts are a commercial matter between BNFL and its customers.

Nuclear Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many shipments of nuclear waste have entered the UK for processing and disposal since 1997; where each shipment originated from; and how much money was received for the taking in of each shipment.

Brian Wilson: Details of the timing of deliveries to the UK of spent nuclear fuel from overseas in fulfilment of reprocessing contracts is an operational matter for the organisations concerned. The detailed contractual arrangements, including contract prices, are a commercial matter between the contracting parties.
	In respect of BNFL's contracts for THORP, it can be noted that details of the customer countries, the total amounts of spent fuel to be reprocessed and the overall value of the contracts was included in BNFL's July 1993 publication ''the Economic and Commercial Justification for THORP'', a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House. Since 1976 all BNFL's reprocessing contracts with overseas customers have included options for returning to the country of origin waste arising from reprocessing the fuel. It is the Government's policy that these options should be exercised.
	UKAEA no longer undertakes fuel reprocessing. There has been one delivery of irradiated fuel to Dounreay since 1997—a small quantity of fuel from Georgia received in April 1998 on behalf of the UK Government.

Nuclear Industry

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2002, ref. 70369, what materials, and in what quantity, can be recovered and re-used from the material to be transported from Japan to Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: I understand from BNFL that the fuel returned to the UK from Japan contains 3439 kilograms of uranium and 255 kilograms of plutonium and that all of the uranium and plutonium can be re-used.

Nuclear Industry

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of nuclear power in energy production over the next 50 years.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government is currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the New Year. The review includes consideration of the role of nuclear power generation.

Nuclear Industry

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received regarding market pressures constraining nuclear generator revenue.

Brian Wilson: The Department has received several representations from a number of players, including nuclear generators, regarding the market pressures on nuclear generator revenue.

Renewable Energy Generation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase hydroelectric storage facilities to meet the increase in renewable energy generation.

Brian Wilson: The UK is relatively well endowed with hydroelectric storage, with plants at Dinorwig, Ffestiniog, Ben Cruachan and Foyers, and there are no plans to increase capacity. However, storage does have a role to play in facilitating the integration of renewable generation, and the Government is supporting the development of the Regenesys fuel cell based storage technology. Regenesys is a modular, flexible, storage technology and has considerable potential to support the integration of renewable energy.

Social Landlords

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will exempt registered Social Landlords who are housing associations registered and regulated by the Housing Corporation under the Housing Act 1996 from proposals to extend administration provisions to industrial and provident societies.

Melanie Johnson: Following detailed discussions with a range of interested parties, the Government tabled amendments to the Enterprise Bill at the Committee stage in the House of Lords to ensure that the Bill's provisions providing for the extension of administration to industrial and provident societies do not apply to registered social landlords under the Housing Act 1996, nor the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

e-Government

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement her Department had in evaluating the completed trials of publicly-accessed IT systems in Leicestershire post offices for their potential to help roll out e-Government; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department chaired the Core Evaluation Team of Government departments and other stakeholders which evaluated the Leicestershire and Rutland pilot of post offices as Government General Practitioners (Your Guide). The evaluation report was published on 23 July (I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 July, Official Report column 947W.

Beryllium

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlay the decision to license the export of beryllium to (a) India and (b) Iran in 2001.

Nigel Griffiths: All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and other previously announced Government policies. The consolidated criteria include a specific reference to the UK's international obligations and commitments that work to prevent the proliferation of both conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
	The Government's export licensing policy for Iran was set out in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central, to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth on 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 273–274W.
	Since the publication of the 2001 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls it has come to light that the entry for Beryllium, licensed for export to India, was incorrectly reported. In any case, the application was refused.

Beryllium

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions on which a licence has been granted by the Government for the export of Beryllium since 2 May 1997, stating for each licence (a) the country to which export was granted and (b) the quantity of the export.

Patricia Hewitt: The export of beryllium is controlled under entries ML8 of Part III, Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, and 1C111, 1C230 and 6C004 of Annex 1 to Council Regulations (EC) No. 1334/2000.
	Details of all export licences issued are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House. Since the publication of the 2001 Annual Report it has come to light that the entry for beryllium, licensed for export to India, was incorrectly reported. The application was refused.
	Between 1 January 2002 and 17 September 2002 no Standard Individual Export Licence or Open Individual Export Licence was issued for the proposed export of beryllium.
	Information on the quantity of beryllium licensed for export is being withheld from disclosure under Part II, Exemptions 13 and 14 of the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Fuel Stocks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days' supply are available in the UK of (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) aviation fuel.

Brian Wilson: At the end of July 2002, the UK had stocks equivalent to (a) 83 days' supply of petrol, (b) 51 days' supply of DERV (diesel engine road vehicle fuel), and (c) 46 days' supply of ATF (aviation turbine fuel).

Fuel Stocks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government have made of the levels of stocks of refined petroleum products required to meet (a) private consumer and industrial demand and (b) Government use in an orderly manner in the event of a crude price spike consequent upon a conflict in Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: At 31 July 2002 the UK had stocks equivalent to 82½ days consumption of petroleum products, which is above the stock level of 67½ days worth of consumption of oil products that the UK is obliged to hold at any one time in accordance with EU legislation.

Fuel Stocks

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place in the last three months with (a) the European Commission and (b) the IEA about a common approach to oil stocks and supply in the event of a conflict in Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The IEA Governing Board meets regularly to discuss oil stocks and oil emergency contingency plans.
	The European Commission presented its recent draft proposals regarding energy security, including oil stock requirements at the Energy Council on 4 October where I represented the UK Government.

Firefighters (Strike)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what risk assessment has been made of the safety of (a) oil refineries, (b) chemical industry installations and (c) power stations should they continue to operate during a national firefighters' strike; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: COMAH sites operated by Oil refiners and Chemical industry plus major Power Generators have conducted or are in the process of conducting safety risk assessments covering the potential fire-fighters strike.
	The Health and Safety Executive inform us that COMAH or Power Station sites regulated by HSE do not have a statutory duty for emergency services to be available during routine operation.
	Evidence from the Merseyside Fire Fighters strike a few years ago showed that operators were able to manage their business activities such that the lack of fire service cover did not compromise safety, and such that their business activities were not significantly compromised.

Firefighters (Strike)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of (a) oil refining capacity and (b) oil product storage capacity would be protected from fire hazard by appliances operated by the industry in the event of a national firemen's strike; and what percentage would fail to meet safe operating standards in the event of such a strike.

Brian Wilson: The UK Petroleum Industry Association inform us that:
	a) All refineries have their own specialist fire fighting equipment and specialist fire fighting teams.
	b) All oil storage facilities have their own specialist fire fighting equipment and all operations personnel are trained in the techniques of fighting oil fires.
	The Health and Safety Executive inform us that:
	Those oil facilities that are COMAH top tier sites are required to prepare written safety reports which demonstrate the measures they have in place are all that are necessary to prevent major incidents and limit their consequences. COMAH sites regulated by HSE do not have a statutory duty for emergency services to be available during routine operation.

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by her Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within her Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not readily available and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

Sub-Post Offices, Huntingdon

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sub-Post Office branches in the Huntingdon constituency will have cash machines installed by April 2003.

Stephen Timms: These are matters that fall within the day to day responsibility of Post Office Limited and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon Member.

Mineworkers' Pension Funds

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 22 July, Official Report, column 775W, on mineworkers' pension funds; if she will made a statement on the timetable for completion of the review.

Brian Wilson: Discussions are continuing with the trustees of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to review the arrangements for the government's guarantee of member's basic pension benefits. That guarantee has served the schemes well, providing the security to enable the trustees to pursue a very positive investment strategy, both generating significant benefits for scheme members and protecting those gains in less favourable circumstances.
	A number of improvements to the Schemes that will benefit their members have already been agreed.
	On the central question of the way in which Government is compensated for the guarantee it has been agreed that further discussions should now concentrate on whether there may be any different methods of paying for the guarantee and other ways of guaranteeing bonuses where those different methods might offer advantages to Scheme members and do not represent a significant extra burden on the taxpayer. Discussions of those issues will include some detailed technical issues and will require advice from actuarial experts. It is hoped it will be possible to conclude these discussions in the next twelve months.

Post Office Closures

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which post offices Consignia is planning to close in the Taunton constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The programme to restructure the urban post office network has not yet started and I am advised by Post Office Limited that, until it does, there are no specific plans for post office closures in the Taunton constituency. When the programme starts it will be taken forward in consultation with individual subpostmasters, the community, local stakeholders and Postwatch.
	The objective of the urban network restructuring programme is to ensure that subpostmasters have the opportunity to build a viable business as well as to provide modernised and improved facilities which meet customers' needs and expectations and are in the right location for the local community.

Post Office Closures

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the number of post offices and sub post offices that are likely to close over the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd will take forward an urban network restructuring programme whose objective will be to ensure that subpostmasters have the opportunity to build a viable business as well as to provide modernised and improved facilities which meet customers' needs and expectations and are in the right location for the local community. The programme will involve a significant number of urban post office closures over the next three years, but it is not yet known precisely how many. In rural areas, the Government has committed that there should be no avoidable post office closures before at least 2006. There has been a sharp fall in the number of rural closures.

Post Office Closures

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on how many sub post offices have closed in (a) gross and (b) net terms in each month since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Since 1997 net annual figures for post office closures are:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 March 1997 163 
			 March 1998 243 
			 March 1999 233 
			 March 2000 382 
			 March 2001 547 
			 March 2002 262 
		
	
	I understand from Post Office Limited that gross closure figures have only been available on a quarterly basis from September 2000 and neither gross nor net closure figures are available on a monthly basis.

Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies she has to meet the estimated demand for gas from 2005 onwards.

Brian Wilson: After 2005, as now, I expect gas to be supplied to the UK market by private companies operating in a competitive market. Government's role is to work with industry through PILOT to maximise the economic benefit to the UK of its own oil and gas resources, and with the Governments of exporting countries to set a political framework to facilitate commercial agreements between companies in the UK and in other countries. Energy security is central to energy policy and will be addressed in the forthcoming Energy White Paper.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when the EU Advisory Committee on state aid for the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty to certain categories of horizontal state aid (exemption) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when the EU Advisory Committee on state aid on the arrangements for applying Article 93 of the EC Treaty (procedure) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Advisory Committee on categories of horizontal state aid last met on 24 July. Neither committee is currently due to meet. The UK is normally represented at these committees by officials from my Department.
	The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Multiannual Community Programme to Stimulate the Establishment of the Information Society in Europe is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) a remembers of it; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: No date has been fixed for the next meeting of this EU Committee. As the programme concludes at the end of 2002, one further meeting is expected in the second half of the year.
	The UK is represented by a single DTI official. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the implementation of projects, actions and measures for the interoperability of trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administrations is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The correct title of the Committee is the Telematics between Administrations Committee (TAC). It is next due to meet on 3 December 2002. The UK is usually represented by an official from the Office of the e-Envoy, within the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office delegate to this committee represents all of the UK.
	The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on promotion of innovation and participation of SMEs is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive have been members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Committee on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on the promotion of innovation and participation of SMEs, which was established under the EU's Fifth Framework Programme (1999–2002), is next due to meet on 17 October 2002. Officials from the Office of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry provide the UK representation. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been members of this committee.
	The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on formulation and implementation of EU research and development policy that touches on matters which fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

Iraq

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much grant was paid to subsidise the retail cost of the report of an Inquiry into the export of defence equipment and dual-use goods to Iraq and related prosecutions.

Nigel Griffiths: In 1995 the DTI paid a subsidy of #80,100 towards the retail cost of the Scott Report.

Temporary Staff

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in her Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department and its agencies do not keep full records of temporary agency staff. Temps work for varied periods ranging from hours to months.
	We do not keep information on the overall spend on temporary agency staff.

General Agreement on Trade In Services

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research projects being carried out by the World Bank on assessing the impact of liberalisation on developing countries achieved through GATS negotiations are being supported by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: None. However the Department for International Development has been funding the World Bank Research Programme on Trade in Services since 1997 and is due to continue doing so until 2004. This programme aims to generate and draw together data and research on the impact of services liberalisation, with a view to improving services trade policy formulation and facilitating the services negotiations at the WTO. One of the central components of the programme is the creation of a database on measures affecting trade in services. The programme also includes a number of policy research projects, the results of which are available on the World Bank website (http://wwwl.worldbank.org/wbiep/trade/services.html_overview).

General Agreement on Trade In Services

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received against the inclusion of water services in GATS; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 23 July 2002
	Over the past months, the Government has received a number of representations from Members, organisations and members of the public against the inclusion of water services in the GATS on the grounds that this would lead to forced privatisation and deregulation of these services, to the detriment of the poor.
	The Government understands these concerns, but does not believe that the GATS will lead to such outcomes. The GATS is a bottom-up agreement, meaning that individual WTO Members decide for themselves whether, to what extent, and when to open up services where they think this will be beneficial. To date, no WTO Member has made a GATS commitment relating to pure drinking water (although some commitments have been made in relation to waste water treatment).
	The European Community believes that improvements in the supply of water, which are needed in many poorer developing countries, can be achieved by involving the private sector in partnership with governments, given limits on public funding. One of the key outcomes from the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development was a new global target to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation, in support of the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people without access to clean water. The EC sees the GATS as a logical complement to these commitments.
	It may be that some WTO Members will decide that it is in their interest to involved the private sector in the funding and/or provision of their water services in order to increase investment and relieve over-stretched resources. They may also decide to open this sector to foreign companies. The aim of GATS commitments would be to ensure that such access is offered on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
	Should WTO Members choose to liberalise in this way, nothing in the GATS can prevent them from regulating to ensure that prices charged are affordable, or to secure other universal service obligations. Nor can the Agreement pressure them into a specific public or private service delivery model. Moreover, the EC's requests purposefully highlight the importance of liberalisation being underpinned by domestic regulatory framework designed to ensure the achievement of public policy objectives.

General Agreement on Trade In Services

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to call for a comprehensive review by the WTO of the impact of increased service liberalisation, especially on water services, before implementing GATS; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 23 July 2002
	The Government has said on previous occasions that we fully support an impact assessment of the liberalisation of trade in services. WTO Members have already agreed to make this an on-going aspect of the current GATS negotiations at the WTO, and through the European Community we are participating actively in discussion on this issue in WTO Council for Trade in Services. We are also funding research by the World Bank that aims to generate and draw together data and research on the impact of services liberalisation in a wide range of countries, with a view to improving services trade policy formulation and facilitating the current negotiations.
	As regards implementation of GATS commitments in the UK, we will shortly consult fully on the requests being made of us in order to assess the potential impact of responding to these requests.

Organisational Remits (South-East)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which areas of responsibility held by (a) South East England Regional Assembly and (b) Surrey Learning and Skills Council fall within her Department's areas of activity; what their key functions are; from where they draw funding; what their total annual budget is; and what assessment she has made of the value for money they deliver in those areas covered by her Department.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State has responsibility for the 8 English Chambers outside London, including the South East. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Skills has responsibility for the Local Learning And Skills Councils.

Organisational Remits (South-East)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the remit is of (a) Business Link Surrey, (b) an Enterprise Hub, (c) Manufacturers' Advisory Service South East, (d) a Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence, (e) the Small Business Service, (f) South East England Development Agency, (g) South East Framework for Regional Employment & Skills Action, (h) Surrey Economic Partnership, (i) Workforce Development Group, (j) Surrey Sustainable Business Partnership and (k) Surrey Training and Enterprise Council; what their key functions are; from where they draw funding; what their total annual budgets are; and what assessment she has made of the value for money they deliver.

Alan Johnson: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House

National Minimum Wage

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken against employers in Portsmouth, South who have failed to pay the national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Inland Revenue enforces the national minimum wage on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. National minimum wage data is not disaggregated to constituency level. However, Portsmouth South falls into the Inland Revenue's South East region where, for the year ended 31 March 2002, 119 employers were found not to be paying the minimum wage and #289,722 in wages arrears was identified on behalf of more than 1,150 workers.

Post Office Artifacts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Post Office on its artifacts collection; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: This is an issue for Consignia plc. No discussions have taken place.

Post Office Artifacts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Post Office has indicated to her Department that it will make its collection of historic artifacts previously displayed in the National Postal Museum available to view by the public; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: This is an issue for Consignia plc. However, I understand from the company that the historical records of The Post Office, from the 17th century to the 20th are open to the public at Freeling House at Mount Pleasant in London on weekdays. The philatelic material previously at the National Postal Museum is also stored there and most of it may be viewed by prior appointment. I am also advised by the company that it is actively developing plans that would enable improved access to the stored historical artefacts formerly in the Museum.

Post Office Museum

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has held with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the future of the Post Office Museum; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: This is an issue for Consignia plc. No discussions have taken place.

Miners (Compensation)

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners from the north Somerset coalfield have (a) applied for and (b) received compensation awards.

Brian Wilson: The table attached shows the number of offers and payments made for vibration white finger (VWF) and respiratory disease (COPD) in the constituencies of Somerton and Frome and Wansdyke.
	
		
			  VWF COPD 
		
		
			 Claims registered 10 287 
			 Full & Final Settlements (inc. Denied/Withdrawn) 4 65 
			 Value of Full & Final Settlements #3,113 #409,638 
			 Offers outstanding 3 57 
			 Value of outstanding offers #8,646 #320,149 
			 Interim Payments made 0 110 
			 Value of Interim Payments 0 #593,835 
		
	
	Note:
	The Wansdyke and Somerton & Frome constituencies were defined using postcodes beginning as follows: BA2–4, BA8, BA11, BA22, BS14–15, BS30–31, BS39–40, and TA11.

Post Office Services

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which directives of the European Commission have come into effect since July 2000 reducing reserved areas, or price monopoly, of the Royal Mail and Post Office services; what consent was given by ministers at the relevant ministerial councils; and what reports were made to Parliament relating to them.

Stephen Timms: The European Postal Directive 2002/39/EC came into effect on 5 July 2002. The effect of the Directive is to reduce the upper weight/price limit, of that part of the postal market that member states may reserve to national universal service providers where necessary to maintain the universal service, from the current limit of 350 grams/5 times the basic weight first class tariff to 100g/ 3 times the basic weight first class tariff from 1 January 2003 and to 50g/ 2.5 times the basic weight first class tariff from 1 January 2006. The Directive was scrutinised and cleared by the European Committees of both Houses. The UK supported the adoption of this Directive in the Council.

Post Office Subsidiaries

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Post Office in (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Austria, (d) the Netherlands, (e) Denmark and (f) Ireland and those partially owned but controlled in Sweden and the (i) cumulative losses or profits from each over the period of such holdings in these enterprises and (ii) total contributions they made to Her Majesty's Treasury.

Stephen Timms: The wholly owned subsidiaries of Consignia plc are as follows:
	a) France: Consignia France, Courier Services, Direct Express, IS Transport, General Logistics Systems France, Extand, Extand Finanzas, Extand Normandie, Extand Relais and Extand Sistema
	b) Germany: Consignia Deutschland, Consignia Holdings GmbH, Consignia Systems, German Parcel Beteiligungs GmbH, German Parcel EDV Handels und Vermietungs GmbH, German Parcel Paket-Logistik Depot 50 GmbH, German Parcel Paket-Logistik GmbH & Co. OHG, German Parcel Paket-Transport GmbH per cent. Co. OHG, Goliath 47 Beitlungs und Verwaltungs GmbH, Der Kurier, Der Kurier Beteiligungs, Deutscher Paket Dienst Dachser and Overnight Service
	c) Austria: General Parcel Austria
	d) the Netherlands: General Logistic Systems International Holdings, RM (Netherlands) 1, Distributiecentra Nederland, NPD Holding, Nederland Pakket Dienst, NPD Services and Extand Hollande
	e) Denmark: FDS Financial Distribution, Pakke Trans, Pakke Trans Anlaeg Aps and Staffetten
	f) Ireland: General Parcel (Ireland) Ltd, Williames Ltd, Williames Air Freight (I) Ltd, Williames Cargo Systems Ltd, Williames Logistics Ltd, Fitzhan, Vicom Logistix Limited, General Parcel Aer and Information Solution (Ireland)
	g) Sweden: Pakke Trans (Sweden), FDS Financial Distribution and AB Grundstenen 87274
	The performance of these acquisitions is commercially confidential and therefore cannot be detailed here.

Prizes (Phone Calls)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce legislation to regulate the activities of companies offering cash and other prizes which can be claimed only by expensive phone calls of several minutes' duration; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The activities of such companies are already regulated, by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS), and must abide by the Code of Practice drawn up and enforced by ICSTIS. If companies breach this Code, for example by unreasonably prolonging their services, they can be fined or even banned from providing services altogether.

Pulpwood Industry

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effect that recycling has had on the pulpwood industry over the last five years.

Brian Wilson: The amount of recycled fibre used in the pulpwood industry in recent years has increased significantly and as a result the demand for virgin pulp has remained fairly static even though demand for paper has increased significantly.
	In 1983 UK paper mills used 1.8 million tonnes of recovered fibre, rising to 4.3 million tonnes in 1996 and peaking at 4.9 million tonnes in 2000. In 2001 the 87 pulp, paper and board mills in the UK used 4.6 million tonnes of recovered fibre in producing 6.2 million tonnes of paper giving a 74 per cent. utilization rate for recovered fibre, the highest level in the EU after Spain. The growth in the use of recovered fibre has generally mirrored growth in production tonnages, whereas the amount of primary UK produced pulp and imported pulp used in the production of paper has remained relatively static since 1990 with between 0.5–0.6 million tonnes of UK produced pulp and between 1.6–1.7 million tonnes of imported pulp being used annually.
	A voluntary agreement by the Newspaper Publishers Association to increase the recycled content of newsprint to 60 per cent. by 2001 was achieved ahead of schedule. An average 63.5 per cent. recycled content was obtained. This coupled with the targets defined in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations 1997 (Amendment) has significantly contributed to the leading UK position. These regulations facilitated an investment of #73 million into the paper industry between 1999–2001 from the sale of Packaging Waste Recovery Notes (PRNs) and Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs).

Nuclear Energy

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for the development of nuclear energy.

Brian Wilson: Nuclear Power currently provides about a quarter of UK's electricity supplies. Existing stations are expected to continue to contribute to the country's energy requirements and to helping limit carbon emissions provided they do so to the high safety and environmental standards currently observed.
	The current energy policy consultation is considering the future role of all generation sources, including nuclear power, in delivering a future energy policy. Submissions have been requested by 13 September and we intend to issue a White Paper around the turn of the year.

Nuclear Reactors

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans she has for speeding up safety checks on nuclear reactors;
	(2)  what plans she has to reform the system of licensing new nuclear reactors; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: I have no such plans. The day-to-day regulation of nuclear safety is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Construction Materials

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the sustainable certification of the construction materials (a) stone, (b) steel and (c) timber.

Brian Wilson: The sustainability of the built environment and the materials from which it is constructed is a key component of our Rethinking Construction strategy for the construction industry. The sustainable use of materials is dependent on a wide range of factors such as embodied energy, renewability, manufacturing process emissions, designed use, social costs, recycling, reuse and end of life disposal.
	Product sustainability certification is in its infancy, both within the UK and internationally. We are working closely with our European partners to produce sensible international standards on a whole-life costing basis.
	Within the UK we have sponsored the Building Research Establishment to develop tools to quantify the environmental performance of products and processes. The result has been the introduction of the Ecopoint system that offers a basis for comparative assessment of building products and processes. This system is now being used to evaluate individual products to offer a clear, understandable indicator for product sustainability that can be applied to the fully breadth of products used in the construction industry.

Steel

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to prevent imports of steel from Eastern European countries which are produced in inefficient plants with highly pollutant side effects.

Brian Wilson: A number of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures are in force against several steel products from various Eastern European countries. In addition, definitive safeguard measures introduced by the EU to guard against trade diversion as a result of the US safeguard measure announced in March include products from Eastern Europe. The EU also has agreements with Russia and Ukraine applying quantitative restrictions to imports of certain steel products from these countries.
	These measures have been taken to protect EU industry from unfair trade practices that harm EU industries or, in the case of the safeguard measure, to prevent a damaging surge of imports into the EU. Neither EU commercial policy instruments nor WTO agreements contain provisions providing for environmental factors to be taken into account when restricting imports.

Stone Imports

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she takes to ensure that the country of origin of stone imports is known.

Brian Wilson: Stone, being a heavy product incurs high transportation costs and has little import penetration within the UK. Most stone used in the UK travels less than thirty miles from its point of extraction to its point of use and less than 2 per cent. is imported. Over half those imports are from within the EU, subject to EU regulation and freedom of movement within the economic area. Stone forms a very small part of the goods and products imported to the UK and it would not be cost effective to monitor their origins. We do, however keep close contact with stone industry trade associations and discuss issues including imports.

Rethinking Construction Demonstration Projects

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on each of the sponsored projects put forward by each Government department as rethinking construction demonstration projects.

Brian Wilson: The following Rethinking Construction demonstration projects have substantially been funded and procured by Central Government departments and agencies. It excludes those being taken forward by the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	Project 4: New Environment Agency Facility Building
	Project 5: Kingston Hospital NHS Trust—New Ward Block
	Project 24: North East Combined Capital Works
	Project 26: Lincshore—sea defence
	Project 29: Covered Ways 12 & 58—London Underground structural work
	Project 28: M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road, Denton—Middleton
	Project 33: Building Down Barriers
	Project 52: Queen Elizabeth Hospital
	Project 55: Earth Structure project—Work on London Underground structures
	Project 83: Calderdale Healthcare PFI
	Project 124: Princess Margaret Hospital Relocation
	Project 126: Area 21 Highways Agency—Maintenance of network in North London
	Project 147: RAF Kinloss Nimrod MRA4 Station
	Project 167: 9 Dock Project—Trident submarine refuelling and refining facility.
	Project 219: Greater London Authority Headquarters
	Project 267: HMP Prefabrication and Pre-Assembly
	Project 330: Lower Tone Flood Defence Improvements Scheme
	Project 349: M62 Junction and Widening Jcts 8–9
	Further information on any of the above demonstration projects is available from the Movement for Innovation section of the Rethinking Construction website at: www.m4i.org.uk/m4i/projects/projects.asp

International Accounting Standards

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on the European Regulation on International Accounting Standards.

Melanie Johnson: On 2 September I published a consultation document on the options for extending the application of the European Regulation on International Accounting Standards. The closing date for comments is 26 November 2002. After the consultation I will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation.

Venture Capital

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government policies to encourage venture capital in the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government recognises the importance of venture capital as a source of finance for business and we have aimed to create an economic climate in which the venture capital industry can flourish. As well as providing tax incentives to encourage more individuals to invest in venture capital, we have commissioned the Myners Study to examine how it might be possible to encourage more institutional investment.
	We have worked closely with representatives of the venture capital industry to develop programmes like the UK High Technology Fund, Regional Venture Capital Funds and the Community Development Venture Fund. In each of these the Government, by making a core investment, has successfully levered in significant private sector finance. This is the first time that a Government of this country has directly invested in venture capital funds with the aim of improving small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) access to finance.

Small Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on small business growth in the last 12 months.

Nigel Griffiths: The latest (National Statistics) 2001 SME Statistics shows the following differences from the 2000 estimates, for the UK as a whole.
	There were nearly 24,000 more businesses in 2001.
	Employment was nearly 0.5 million higher.
	Turnover was about #78 billion higher in 2001 than 2000.
	Over 99.5 per cent. of the increase in business numbers occurred in the SME category (0 to 249 employees). SMEs also accounted for 70 per cent. of the increase in employment and about 57 per cent. of the turnover increase.

Small Businesses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rate of (a) small business and (b) venture capital growth has been over the past five years, broken down by region.

Nigel Griffiths: (a) Using SME Statistics and VAT Registrations and De-registrations data the following trends are apparent for the period 1997–2001.
	For the UK as a whole there were about 3.71 million small businesses (0 to 49 employees) in 2001. This was an increase of about 36,000 on the 1997 estimates. A more detailed look at the figures shows that this has actually occurred despite a big decrease of about 50,000 from 1997 to 1998. There has been an annual increase of at least 20,000 businesses every year since 1998.
	Regional SME statistics are not available for 2000 or 2001. In the period 1997–1999 only London saw an increase in the number of small businesses (approximately 98,500 more).
	In 2001 there were about 7,000 (4 per cent.) less VAT registrations than in 1997 (UK level). The number of VAT de-registrations in the UK also fell by about 1,700 (1 per cent.).
	All regions except West Midlands region saw fewer registrations in 2001 than in 1997. All except Eastern and London regions had fewer de-registrations in 2001 than in 1997.
	(b) For the UK as a whole 17 per cent. more companies received investment in 2001 than in 1997. The amount of investment in 2001 was 55 per cent. higher than in 1997. However, there was a 25 per cent. decrease in the amount invested from 2000 to 2001, but more companies received this money.
	In the 1997–2001 period 5 English regions (Yorkshire & Humber, Eastern, London, South East and South West) have seen an increase in the number of companies receiving investment. Northern Ireland also saw this trend.
	6 English regions (all except North West, Yorkshire & Humber and West Midlands) saw an increase in the amount of investment over the period. This was also the case in Scotland.
	London saw the biggest changes over the period. From 1997 to 2001 there were 84 per cent. more companies invested in and a 160 per cent. increase in the amount invested.

Auditing and Accounting

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress the joint DTI-Treasury chaired group has made on the (a) analysis and (b) response to the auditing and accounting issues raised by recent corporate failures.

Melanie Johnson: The Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accounting Issues published an Interim Report on 24 July. Copies of the Report were placed in the Libraries of the House.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, welcomed the report in a Statement on the same day. In response to a recommendation in the Interim Report, she announced that there would be an immediate review of the regulation of the audit and accountancy professions in the UK. The Terms of Reference for that Review have now been published and are as set out below:
	To review the current arrangements for the regulation of the accountancy and audit professions; to consider whether revised arrangements and structures are necessary to provide assurance to the public that these are effective; and, if so, to recommend what form they should take.
	In particular, the review should look at:
	the regulatory functions that are necessary in the public interest, and how they should be carried out, including desirable simplification
	the balance between professional self regulation and independent regulation in carrying out these functions; and the extent to which these should be on a statutory basis
	the case for taking a different approach to the regulation of the accountancy profession in general and to the regulation of auditors in particular
	the funding arrangements and in particular whether these are consistent with the concept of independent regulation
	the responsibilities and accountabilities of the various bodies, including the process of making appointments
	In considering these issues, the review should also have regard to:
	the principles of good regulation established by the Better Regulation Task Force
	international developments, especially in the United States and the European Union
	the requirements of the 8 EU Company Law Directive and the Companies Act 1989 on the regulation of auditors
	the relationship between these arrangements and the work of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and its subsidiary bodies, and the responsibilities of the Financial Services Authority in relation to listed companies.
	the other work being carried out following the interim report by the Coordinating Group on Accounting and Audit, and the Secretary of State's Statement to Parliament of 24 July 2002.
	The review should report by January 2003.

Ministerial Meetings

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when (a) she and (b) the Minister for Energy have (i) met and (ii) spoken to (A) the Chairman and (B) the directors of (1) British Energy and (2) British Nuclear Fuels Limited since 1 June 2001; and what the nature of each discussion was.

Patricia Hewitt: Ministers and Officials from my Department have had regular discussions on a wide range of issues with the Chairman and directors of British Energy and British Nuclear Fuels Limited.

Ministerial Meetings

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) dates and (b) purpose of (i) meetings and (ii) discussions ministers in her Department have had with the European commissioners for (A) Transport and Energy, (B) Competition, (C) Enterprise and Information Society, (D) Internal Market, (E) Taxation and Customs Union, (F) Economic and Monetary Affairs, (G) Trade, (H) Health and Consumer Protection, (I) Education and Culture and (J) Employment and Social Affairs since June 2001.

Patricia Hewitt: Ministers undertake bilateral meetings with any EU Commissioners as and when appropriate. No one central record is kept of Ministerial meetings with each individual EU Commissioner and to provide such detailed information would entail disproportionate costs.

Data Collation

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the form in which (a) questions and (b) comments from third parties made to her Department by (i) telephone, (ii) e-mail, (iii) fax, (iv) letter and (v) other means are collated.

Patricia Hewitt: Questions and comments from third parties received by my Department in writing—by e-mail, fax or letter—are kept on file by the directorate to which the correspondence is relevant. Replies, where applicable, to that correspondence are filed with it.
	Unless of an ephemeral nature, verbal enquiries or comments, by telephone or otherwise, are noted for the record and similarly filed. Where possible third parties are encouraged to put substantive comments and queries in writing to the Department.

Export Licences

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the licences agreed by her Department since 2 May 1997 for the export of material to (a) Iran and (b) India, stating for each licence (i) what it was for and (ii) what checks were made to establish whether it could be used for arms production.

Patricia Hewitt: Leaving aside concerns over confidentiality, it would entail disproportionate cost to provide details of all export licences issued to Iran and India since 2 May 1997, together with information on what the proposed export was for and what checks were made to establish whether it could be used for arms production.
	Details of all export licences issued are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Publications

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the publications produced by her Department since 25 February, stating for each the (a) number of copies produced and (b) cost of production.

Patricia Hewitt: A list of those DTI publications produced since 25 February 2002 which have been notified to my Department's Publications Unit has been placed in the Libraries of the House. For publications produced prior to this date I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 849–850W. The listing includes the total cost incurred by the Department in publishing, preparation and production of each publication (where notified centrally), and excludes publications produced for internal use.
	Information on the number of copies produced is not held centrally by the Publications Unit and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Lost Post

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of (a) first and (b) second class letters and packages were lost in each of the last five years.

Patricia Hewitt: These are matters that fall within the day to day responsibility of Consignia Limited and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Broadband Market

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's progress towards the target of the United Kingdom having the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005.

Patricia Hewitt: In the UK Online Annual Report (November, 2001), it was announced that the UK was fourth in the G7 in terms of competitiveness, ahead of the other European members of the G7, and fifth in terms of extensiveness. We will publish updated figures later this year.

Advisers and Consultants

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the advisers or consultants retained by her Department since 1 June 2001, stating for each adviser or consultant (i) the purpose, (ii) the length and (iii) the cost of their retention.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not readily available centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

Unionised Workers

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of (a) the number and (b) the percentage of unionised workers in the (i) private sector, (ii) public sector and (iii) in total in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The number and percentage of unionised workers in (i) the private sector, (ii) the public sector and (iii) in total in each year from 1997 are summarised in the tables below. Table 1 refers to employees only and table 2 to all in employment, which includes the self-employed. Both tables exclude the armed forces and the ''all in employment'' figures also exclude unpaid family workers and those on college based schemes.
	
		Table 1. Trade union membership and density for employees 1 , UK
		
			  Private sector  Public sector  Total  
			  thousands per cent. thousands per cent. thousands per cent. 
		
		
			 1997 3426 19.7 3670 61.0 7096 30.4 
			 1998 3462 19.3 3677 61.0 7139 29.9 
			 1999 3496 19.2 3708 59.9 7204 29.6 
			 2000 3448 18.7 3835 60.2 7283 29.5 
			 2001 3460 18.6 3786 59.3 7246 29.1 
		
	
	Note:
	1 Includes all employees, excluding members of the armed forces. These data do not include the self-employed, unpaid family workers and those on government training schemes.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, Autumn quarters from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
	
		Table 2. Trade union membership and density for all in employment 1 , UK
		
			  Private sector  Public sector  Total  
			  thousands per cent. thousands per cent. thousands per cent. 
		
		
			 1997 3701 17.7 3671 60.8 7372 27.4 
			 1998 3717 17.5 3679 60.8 7396 27.1 
			 1999 3789 17.6 3709 59.8 7498 27.1 
			 2000 3746 17.3 3834 60.0 7580 27.1 
			 2001 3762 17.2 3788 59.2 7550 26.8 
		
	
	Note:
	1 Includes all those in employment, excluding members of the armed forces, unpaid family workers, and those on college based schemes. These data include the self-employed and those on government training schemes not based at a college.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, Autumn quarters from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Ofgem

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on discussions between her Department and Ofgem since 1 August.

Patricia Hewitt: My Ministerial colleagues, Departmental Officials and I have regular discussions with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets on a range of issues.

Consignia

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the financial results of Consignia in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The post tax profit/(loss), including exceptional items, for each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Outturn # million 
		
		
			 2001–2002 (940) 
			 2000–2001 49 
			 1999–2000 (264) 
			 1998–1999 496 
			 1997–1998 447 
		
	
	The recent poor performance of the company, is the result of deep-seated problems that have not been addressed over a number of years. Government has now put in place steps for this to be remedied. These include the appointment of new board members and making available the #1.8 billion of accumulated reserves, which will back much needed investment in the mails business and Post Office Limited.

TRANSPORT

Cycling

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made towards meeting the Government's target of increasing the proportion of journeys made by bicycle.

David Jamieson: We have an extensive programme of action to support and promote cycling. As part of their Local Transport Plans, local authorities are now expected to develop and deliver local cycling strategies. These strategies are currently being audited by the National Cycling Strategy Board for England, with help from a new team of experts based in the regions. We have also recently announced the first tranche of awards from the new national Cycling Projects Fund, from which we are supporting 138 projects at a cost of #2.18 million.

Concessionary Travel

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce free off-peak travel for pensioners on public transport.

David Jamieson: Under the Transport Act 2000, our standard minimum requirement for concessionary travel in England ensures half fares for pensioners and disabled people on local buses, with a free pass. Local authorities may make more generous provision, including free travel, at their discretion. From 1 April 2003 men aged 60 and over will benefit from existing schemes.

Concessionary Travel

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance the Government are giving to local authorities in respect of Freedom travel passes for blind people who are not of retirement age; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Transport Act 2000 (and the GLA Act 1999 as amended by the Transport Act) provides for the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to local authorities, including the London Boroughs, which they must take into account when deciding whether someone is eligible for concessionary travel under the disability criteria. Blind or partially-sighted persons are listed in guidance issued last year as one of the seven eligible categories of disabled persons. The guidance can be viewed at www.dft.gov.uk/itwp/consult/cf/disabled/index.htm.
	The Transport Act 2000 provides for a statutory minimum 50 per cent. discount on local bus services for elderly and disabled people in England and Wales. Many local authorities, including those in London, choose to offer better schemes and under the Act are still free to do so.
	In London, the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (GLA 1999) requires the 33 London local authorities to agree arrangements for concessionary travel for their elderly and disabled residents with Transport for London annually. This scheme is known as the Freedom Pass. It provides free travel on buses, tube and rail services for all blind people meeting the disability criteria in the statutory guidance.

Trans-Pennine Rail Links

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the need for improved trans-Pennine rail links.

John Spellar: The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan sets out proposals for improved services for both passengers and freight.

Rail Infrastructure

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he is making on improving the rail network on the North of England.

John Spellar: The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan sets out investment priorities for the network—including the North of England—and identifies how the Authority expects the key targets in our 10-Year Transport Plan to be delivered.

Rail Infrastructure

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when railway tracks and signals will be upgraded to allow Virgin to operate its tilting train.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's proposed strategy for the West Coast Main Line would provide for the first major stage of renewal and upgrade work on the line to be completed by September 2004, when the new Pendolino trains will be able to operate at 125mph using their tilting abilities.

Rolling Stock

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the new rolling stock on the Hastings to Charing Cross line to be fully operational; and what account he has taken in the 10-year plan of the need to upgrade the line to facilitate this.

David Jamieson: Connex has ordered 618 new vehicles of which 84 are now available for passenger service or driver training. Further vehicles are expected to enter service this year. The 10-year plan provides for investment in new rolling stock and infrastructure to achieve our targets for performance quality and growth.

Trams

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on funding of trams in Greater Manchester.

John Spellar: The Government approved in principle funding for a package of three extensions to Manchester Metrolink two years ago. Tenders have now come in at prices that are significantly above forecasts. We are therefore considering whether the project is still affordable and will reach a view as soon as possible.

Rail Services

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding high-speed rail lines to the North of England and Scotland.

David Jamieson: None. The Strategic Rail Authority's study into the need for and viability of a high speed line running between London and the North of England and Scotland is due to be completed later this year. The Authority will report the findings to Ministers at that time.

Rail Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures the Government are taking to improve train punctuality.

David Jamieson: We have made it a priority objective for the Strategic Rail Authority to work with the rail industry to achieve substantial and lasting improvements in performance. They are doing so.

Rail Services

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes to the rail network he plans.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Plan, published by the Strategic Rail Authority in January 2002, sets out a series of projects and timescales which, if met, will deliver the targets set out in the Government's 10 Year Plan for transport.

Rail Services

Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on passenger rail services to Corby.

David Jamieson: Under their franchise agreement Midland Mainline provide a bus shuttle service between Corby and Kettering Station to connect with train services. Initial studies have indicated that a rail service would require considerable continuing financial support. I understand that Catalyst Corby (the urban Regeneration Company for the area) is working towards a bid for Rail Passenger Partnership funds from the Strategic Rail Authority.

Rail Services

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made over the past three years in increasing the public use of rail services.

David Jamieson: Usage of the railways, measured in passenger kilometres, has increased by nearly 8 per cent. over the past three years, from 36.3 billion in 1998/99 to 39.1 billion in 2001/02.

Rail Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on investment in respect of the Norwich to Liverpool Street railway line.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is creating a new ''Greater Anglia'' franchise, through which it will consider ways of improving performance and replacing rolling stock on the Norwich-London route. The infrastructure on the route is currently affected by a backlog of renewal work and the SRA is considering options for addressing this.

Bus Services

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the progress of bus quality partnerships.

David Jamieson: Quality bus partnerships are helping to attract more people to public transport by improving the quality of local bus services. A survey undertaken for my Department recorded that 134 voluntary quality bus partnership agreements were in place in England and Wales in 2001. Some authorities are actively considering statutory quality bus partnership schemes as part of their bus strategies.

Transport Links

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action he is taking to improve transport links between England and Scotland.

David Jamieson: The majority of transport functions have been devolved to the Scottish Executive. On reserved matters, we consult regularly with the Executive. We are currently in discussion with the Executive on a number of issues, including regional air services and rail infrastructure, in conjunction with the Strategic Rail Authority.

Trust Ports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made with modernising trust ports.

David Jamieson: Of the 51 trust ports that fall within my Department's area of responsibility (England and Wales), so far 12 have achieved full compliance and 15 have prepared draft orders that are either with the Department for comment or about to be made. We are working with the remaining 24 trust ports in the preparation of their implementation plans and draft orders.

Transport 10-year Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the elements of the 10-year plan which are running behind schedule, as set out in the memoranda published by his Department in 2000.

David Jamieson: A report on the 10-Year Plan for transport, which will set out progress to date, will be published in the Autumn.

Transport 10-year Plan

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place to review the effectiveness of the 10-year plan for transport.

David Jamieson: Progress towards delivery of the objectives in the 10-Year Plan is monitored continuously.

Transport 10-year Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the timetable steps outlined in the Delivery of Improvements over the Life of the Plan memorandum published at the time of the publication of the 10-Year Plan have been met.

David Jamieson: A report on the 10-Year Plan for transport, which will set out progress made to date, will be published in the Autumn.

Rail Franchises

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement concerning the grant of the rail franchise for Wales.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority expects to award the Wales and Borders franchise in the Spring of next year. The new franchise is likely to start next Autumn.

Rail Franchises

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the South West Trains franchise negotiations.

David Jamieson: Negotiations between the Strategic Rail Authority and Stagecoach are in progress. In June of this year they reached agreement on an interim deal costing #29 million up to February 2003 that will deliver early passenger benefits, including the replacement of Mark 1 trains.

Rail Franchises

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extension of the Thames Trains franchise.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is in negotiation with Go-Ahead Group regarding a possible two-year extension of the Thames Trains franchise, which expires in April 2004.

Speed Cameras

James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of making speed cameras more visible; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The camera visibility rules for those areas in the safety camera netting off came into force on 1 July 2002. It is too early to judge their effectiveness although initial feedback from the participant areas suggests that compliance is improved at the yellow fixed camera sites.

Air Traffic Capacity

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to meet the demand for air traffic capacity in the South East.

David Jamieson: The South East Consultation Document on the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom invites views on whether new airport capacity should be provided in the South East over the next 30 years and, if so, how much; and on where any additional runway capacity should be provided. The Secretary of State will consider all consultation responses before taking decisions in the air transport White Paper which we plan to publish next year. The consultation document includes a chapter on the implications of growth for the safety of our airspace.

Handy Cross Junction

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the renovation of Handy Cross junction.

David Jamieson: As the hon. Member will be aware, on 19 August I announced that we intend to accelerate this scheme by including it in our Targeted Programme of Improvements. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary procedures, works are programmed to start in 2005. I am pleased to announce that the Highways Agency has now placed a Contract Notice in the Official Journal of the European Community inviting expressions of interest for contractors to design and build the scheme.

Ports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to prevent a distortion of competition between existing ports in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic when applications are submitted for funding to the European Union and Her Majesty's Government from port authorities in the United Kingdom.

David Jamieson: Where port authorities in the UK seek public funding, we undertake an assessment of the potential impact on traffic flows at other UK ports. Funding of ports in the Irish Republic is a matter for the Irish Government.

Ports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the level of use of European Union-assisted ferry port facilities in the United Kingdom.

David Jamieson: No specific assessments have been made of the use of ferry port facilities that have received European Union assistance.

Shipping Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many merchant ships were UK owned and registered in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The size of the fleet in number of UK owned and UK Registered ships is given in the table:
	
		
			 As at 31 December UK Owned Fleet (All vessels) UK Owned Fleet (*Trading vessels) 
		
		
			 1997 1,779 612 
			 1998 1,770 616 
			 1999 1,763 617 
			 2000 1,793 624 
			 2001 1,772 594 
			 2002 (as at 30 June) 1,754 593 
		
	
	
		
			 As at 31 December UK Registered Fleet (All vessels) UK Registered Fleet (* Trading vessels) 
		
		
			 1997 1,498 369 
			 1998 1,498 378 
			 1999 1,456 379 
			 2000 1,518 417 
			 2001 1,527 427 
			 2002 (as at 30 June) 1,562 451 
		
	
	Note:
	* ''Trading'' vessels are those which carry cargo or passengers for commercial purposes. The remainder of the fleet consists of vessels, which are deemed to be ''non-trading''. Examples of non-trading vessels are dredgers and trawlers, but vessels which were constructed for ''trading'' purposes can also come into this category, if they have been converted to a non-trading use, e.g. storage or a floating restaurant.

Shipping Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government have taken since 1997 to help increase the amount of UK-flagged tonnage in the merchant shipping industry.

David Jamieson: The Government have introduced tonnage tax. Together with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's registration reforms, this has resulted in a substantial increase, of around 90 per cent., in the amount of UK-flagged tonnage in the merchant shipping industry.

Shipping Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions have taken place with NUMAST on (a) the health and safety of British seafarers and (b) the state of the UK shipping industry.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State met NUMAST to discuss cover by fire services at sea, social conditions on UK registered ships, and seafarer training.
	Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met NUMAST to discuss social conditions on UK registered ships.
	The Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has also met NUMAST to discuss issues arising from the Report of the re-opened Formal Investigation into the loss of the MV Derbyshire.

Shipping Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed in the UK shipping industry in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The best estimates of total active seafarers since 1997 are those produced by the London Guildhall University's ''United Kingdom Seafarers Analysis 2001''. These are given in the table:
	
		
			 Year Total Active Seafarers 
		
		
			 1997 29,610 
			 1998 29,309 
			 1999 28,085 
			 2000 27,826 
			 2001 25,188 
		
	
	The Government recognise the concern about the lack of a comprehensive, consistent approach to estimating the number of people resident in the UK with maritime skills, based on agreed definitions and assumptions. This includes information on those with maritime skills in posts ashore. My Department is therefore examining, with the industry, means of improving estimates of data.

Nuclear Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many movements of spent nuclear fuel occurred in each year from 1997 (a) by air within UK airspace, (b) by sea within UK waters, (c) by rail and (d) by road.

David Jamieson: This Department does not hold statistical information of the type requested.

Nuclear Waste

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules are in place to govern the safe transfer of nuclear waste between countries.

David Jamieson: The rules covering sea and air transport of radioactive material are, respectively, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code (Amendment 30–00) produced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, 2001–2002 Edition, produced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
	Within Europe, international road transport is covered by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), 2001 Edition, produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Similarly, rail transport is covered by the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) Appendix B. Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) Annex 1 Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), 2001 Edition.
	All rules for the safe transport of radioactive materials are based on the Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (the latest version being the 1996 Edition (revised)).

Thameslink 2000

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Thameslink 2000 project.

David Jamieson: Planning and associated applications are currently before the Deputy Prime Minister.

Transport Services (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport (a) surveys and (b) studies underway cover Taunton.

David Jamieson: The Government are funding through the Highways Agency two studies covering Taunton and one survey (at various locations). Similar information of a much more localised nature would be available from Somerset County Council itself.

Transport Services (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the (a) reliability and (b) punctuality of rail services between Taunton and (i) London, (ii) Aberdeen, (iii) Plymouth and (iv) Penzance.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority publishes performance statistics for all train operating companies every three months in National Rail Trends and every six months in On Track. The figures for each operator are not broken down to route level. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Transport Services (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects new trains to be deployed on the Paddington to Bristol line in sufficient numbers to ensure that all Paddington to Taunton services use high-speed train sets.

David Jamieson: The few remaining locomotive hauled (class 47) services to the west country were withdrawn with the introduction of the winter timetable on 29 September. Services are now provided by a combination of High Speed Trains (HSTs) and new Class 180 Adelante trains, both of which are capable of speeds of 125mph.

British Transport Police

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many arrests were made by British Transport Police in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

David Jamieson: The British Transport Police do not separately record numbers of arrests. They processed the following numbers of persons for allegedly committing offences:
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Number 36,607 39,832 38,119 32,300 
		
	
	The figures for 1997 are not readily available and were recorded using different Home Office rules that would not be comparable with the figures for subsequent years.

British Transport Police

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) officers and (b) other staff there were in the British Transport Police in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000; and how many there are now.

David Jamieson: The British Transport Police have provided me with the following information:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Police Officers 2,132 2,095 2,113 2,091 2,109 2,123 
			 Support Staff 461 492 524 523 565 644

West Coast Main Line

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of the West Coast main line next year on Wilmslow;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Railtrack and Network Rail on opening the branch railway line from Styal to Manchester during the closure of the West Coast main line next year;
	(3)  if he will list the persons and organisations consulted before his announcement that the West Coast main line will close next year.

David Jamieson: These are matters for the Strategic Rail Authority. On 9 October, the SRA published for consultation their draft Strategy for delivering the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line. The Strategy includes consideration of alternative service patterns on sections of line when work is in progress.

West Coast Main Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to public funds is of the West Coast Mainline upgrade to date.

David Jamieson: No public funds have been expended specifically on the West Coast Main Line route modernisation project. However, to the extent that the estimated costs of the project have already been taken into account by the Rail Regulator in determining Railtrack's income requirements, an element of that income will have been supported by public funding to train operating companies using the line which has flowed through to Railtrack in the form of access charges, and by public funding for network grants paid to Railtrack.

Huntingdon–Oxford Train Service

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the initiation of the train service between Huntingdon and Oxford.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority commissioned a study of the wider strategic options for services on the East-West corridor. This confirmed that viable options exist for services on the Oxford-Milton Keynes corridor, but found little evidence that services east of Bedford would be economically viable or provide value for money if supported by public funds. However, the SRA is exploring with Network Rail and other relevant parties options for keeping parts of the East-West route in railway ownership and safeguarding potential infrastructure alignments in the West Coast and East Coast Main Line upgrades.

Public Transport Assessment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to undertake an assessment of the road and public transport infrastructure in London and the South East of England before the house-building programme announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review begins; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We are working with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to develop its comprehensive long-term programme of action for building sustainable communities. Transport has an important role in this, and we will be working closely with regional and local partners to understand their particular transport needs as plans develop.

Disabled Access

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes have been made to public transport in the United Kingdom to ensure better access for disabled people.

David Jamieson: We are using the powers in Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to introduce regulations which will ensure that public transport is accessible to disabled people, including those who need to travel in a wheelchair.
	The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 were the first to be made and affect all new passenger rolling stock entering service since 1 January 1999. Those regulations apply not only to rolling stock on mainline services, but also to light rail systems and underground systems.
	Similar regulations—the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000—apply to new buses and coaches with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers which are used on local and scheduled services. Those regulations have applied since 31 December 2000. Different dates for compliance with the wheelchair access requirements have been set for different vehicle types, ie
	For full size single and double deck buses—31 December 2000
	For smaller buses and all coaches—1 January 2005
	Separate dates have also been set for all vehicles to comply with the regulations, ie
	For full size single deck buses—1 January 2016
	For double deck buses—1 January 2017
	For smaller buses—1 January 2015
	For coaches—1 January 2020
	The Act also makes provision for accessibility regulations to be made for licensed taxis. We are currently considering how best to take forward those provisions. In the meantime we have already introduced a requirement for taxi drivers to accept assistance dogs accompanying a disabled person and to carry those dogs free of charge. That requirement came into force on 31 March 2001.

Railways

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with rail companies on (a) the modernisation of trains and (b) the extension of services through the night.

David Jamieson: None. These would be matters for the train operating companies to take forward with the Strategic Rail Authority.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new railway have been constructed since 1997.

David Jamieson: Annual figures for the renewal of the rail network are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Length of track in km 
		
		
			 1997–98 456 1) 
			 1998–99 397 2) 
			 1999–00 517 3) 
			 2000–01 1064 4) 
			 2001–02 983 5) 
		
	
	Sources:
	1. Railtrack's 1998 Network Management Statement
	2. Railtrack's 1999 Annual Reconciliation Statement
	3. Railtrack's 2000 Annual Reconciliation Statement
	4. Railtrack's 2001 Annual Return to the Rail Regulator
	5. Railtrack's 2002 Annual Return to the Rail Regulator

Rail Complaints

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the change in the number of complaints to the Rail Passengers Council in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: The Rail Passengers Council (RPC) is required to publish an annual report to the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, whose responsibilities include protecting passenger rights. The overall number of complaints handled by the RPC between 2001 and 2002 rose by around 3 per cent., from 14,149 to 14,528. This increase was not uniform, with some areas, such as the Southern and Midlands regions, experiencing a fall in complaints. The main causes for complaints this year were train performance and service quality, redress and reimbursement and facilities and service at stations.

Railway Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to tackle crime on the railways.

David Jamieson: The Government are committed to reduce crime and the fear of crime wherever it occurs in the transport system.
	The British Transport Police work with the rail industry, local police forces and other agencies to deliver a safe railway environment free from disruption and the fear of crime. Our Policy Statement on Passenger Rail Franchising includes improvements in safety and personal security among the benefits the SRA might deliver through franchises.
	We are involved in or support a number of specific initiatives including the Secure Stations Scheme, the National Route Crime Group, a pilot secure transport route along the Manchester (Victoria) to Clitheroe rail line and a joint project with the Strategic Rail Authority on ways to improve personal security in train travel.

Central Railways

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the latest report and advice from the SRA on Central Railways; and when it will be published.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority has now delivered its report about Central Railways' proposals. Publication of the report will be a matter for the SRA.

Rail Operators (Cycles)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail operating companies that provide accommodation for cycles on (a) peak and (b) off-peak journeys; what the average number was of cycles carried per rail journey in 2001; what plans the Government have to increase the number of cycles carried by rail operators; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) requires franchise operators to provide facilities for cycles on existing rolling stock subject to what is reasonably practicable given the type of rolling stock currently used and the nature of the service provided. In accordance with Directions and Guidance from the Government the SRA is working with the operators to provide reasonable and secure facilities on board new rolling stock and at stations. The table below sets out which train operating companies provide accommodation for cycles on their peak and off-peak services. Information on the average number of cycles carried in 2001 is not available.
	
		Train operating companies that provide accommodation for bicycles 1 
		
			 Train operating company Cycles accommodated in peak 2 Cycles accommodated off-peak 
		
		
			 Anglia Railways Train Services Yes Yes 
			 Arriva Trains Merseyside Yes Yes 
			 Arriva Trains Northern No Yes 
			 C2C No Yes 
			 Central Trains Most services Most services 
			 Chiltern Railway Co Not on services to and from London or Birmingham Snow Hill Yes 
			 Connex Not on services to and from London Yes 
			 First Great Eastern Not on services to and from London Yes 
			 First Great Western Yes Yes 
			 First North Western Yes Yes 
			 Gatwick Express Yes Yes 
			 GNER Yes Yes 
			 Island Line Yes Yes 
			 Midland Main Line High Speed Trains only Yes 
			 ScotRail Yes Yes 
			 Silverlink Train Services Not on services between Wolverton and London Yes 
			 South Central Not on services to and from London Yes 
			 South West Trains Not on suburban services to and from London Yes 
			 Thameslink Rail Not on services to, through or from London Yes 
			 Thames Trains Not on services to and from London Yes 
			 Virgin Trains Most services, except Virgin Train Rail Links Most services, except Virgin Train Rail Links 
			 WAGN Railway Not on services between Finsbury Park and Moorgate or into Cambridge in the morning peak Yes 
			 Wales & Borders Trains Not on some Valley Lines services Yes 
			 Wessex Trains Not on services between Exmouth and Paignton—Exeter Central; Weston-Super-Mare and Bath Spa—Bristol Temple Meads/Filton Abbey Wood; Bristol Temple Meads—Bath Spa Yes 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 On some services advance booking, limited spaces and charges may apply. Some operators do not accept tandems or tricycles. No restrictions usually apply to fully folded folding cycles.
	2 Peak services apply Monday–Friday excluding Bank Holidays, and the duration of peak hours varies between operators. Unless otherwise specified peak restrictions apply to services into the indicated terminal in the morning and out of that terminal in the evening.

Railway Consultations

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for statutory consultation between local authorities and rail authorities.

David Jamieson: Section 206 of the Transport Act 2000 requires the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), in formulating its strategies, to consult the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales, the Rail Regulator and other such persons as it thinks fit. Beyond this, the Secretary of State's Directions and Guidance to the SRA make clear that he expects the Authority to carry out the appropriate level of consultation with those likely to be affected by its actions. The SRA has also published its policy on consultation, which can be found on its website. We see no reason to impose further statutory consultation requirements on the SRA.

Virgin Trains

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take action to ensure that the benefit of compensation paid to Virgin Trains in respect of delays caused by failure of Railtrack infrastructure are passed to the passengers who have endured those delays.

David Jamieson: Compensation to passengers for delays and cancellations to train services is covered by the Passenger's Charter which every franchised train operating company is required to publish and which applies to all train operators services on all routes. Any passengers who have been delayed and have made claims will have had their claims for compensation dealt with by Virgin Trains.

Vehicle Inspectorate/Traffic Area Network

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the proposed changes affecting the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network are; if he will list the organisations consulted; if he will give the timetable for the integration of the computer systems of the two organisations, with the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 23 July 2002 [Official Report, columns 964–65W]. In line with usual conventions regarding machinery of government changes, there was no consultation with external organisations prior to the announcement. Decisions on the structure of the new organisation, including the extent and speed of integration of its computer systems, will be made within the context of the strategy for improved customer service across the agencies in the DVO group and the delivery of e-enabled services to the motorist.

Road Accidents

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents have been attributed to the use by (a) car, (b) bus, (c) taxi, (d) coach drivers and (e) cyclists of a hand held mobile phone in each of the last three years, (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of the total number of journeys by that group.

David Jamieson: Information regarding the use of mobile phones is not recorded within national statistics on road accidents.

Road Accidents

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents have been attributed to the use by tourist coach drivers of a hand held microphone in each of the last three years (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the total number of journeys by this group.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available.

A21

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents occurred on the A21 between (a) Lamberhurst and Flimwell and (b) Tonbridge and Pembury between January and June.

David Jamieson: The figures requested are shown in the table:
	
		Injury accidents on the A21: GB 2001
		
			 Location 2001* 2001 1  
		
		
			 Lamberhurst—Flimwell 2 2 4 
			 Tonbridge—Pembury 3 8 20 
		
	
	Notes:
	* Data for January to June only
	1. Complete year data.
	2. Figures are taken between the junction with the B2169 near Scotney Castle and the north end of the dual carriageway at Flimwell.
	3. Figures are taken between the junction with the A26 at Quarry Hill and the junction with A264.

Motorways

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to plant foliage on the central reservations of UK motorways.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency, responsible for motorways in England, has no plans to plant the majority of central reservations. Since 1990 central reservations have been designed and constructed as hard surfaced areas often with integral drainage channels and cable ducts for lighting. These areas are in a hostile environment which is subject to the effects of de-icing salt, turbulence and dust and not suited for growing plants.
	Planting is considered viable only in wide central reservations where the total width is 10 metres or more and a healthy plant environment can be maintained. Where central reserve planting does exist in narrow central reserves there are high maintenance costs involving traffic management, replacement planting and pruning. These activities also result in delays to road users and potentially put operatives at risk from working close to live traffic.

M25

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the concrete surface of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9 is to be replaced with quieter materials.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter to Mr. Crispin Blunt from David York, dated 15 October 2002:
	I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent question asking when the concrete surface of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9 is to be replaced with quieter materials. I am replying since Tim Matthews is currently away on business.
	The surface of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9 will be replaced as part of the Government's commitment in the 10 Year Transport Plan to replace all concrete roads with quieter surfaces by 31 March 2011. This section of the M25 is not included in the current 3 year national resurfacing programme for the period 2001/04. The resurfacing programme for the remaining years of the Plan will be formulated as part of future Spending Reviews.

A556M

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if 
	(1)  he will make a statement on the proposed A556M;
	(2)  What consideration he has given to making Junction 20 of the M6 multi-directional.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter to Mr. George Osborne from Hillary Chipping, dated 15 October 2002:
	The Transport Minister, David Jamieson has asked me to reply to your recent questions about plans for the A556 (M) and Junction 20 of the M6. I am replying in the absence of Tim Matthews, the Chief Executive who is currently away on Highways Agency business.
	As you may be aware, the White Paper ''A New Deal for Trunk Roads'' published in July 1998, identified a need for the West Midlands to North West Conurbations Multi Modal Study (MIDMAN). As part of a combined package of transport solutions, the study has identified a number of highway improvements including widening the M6 Motorway to 4 lanes up to Junction 20 and re-modelling Junction 20 to make it multi-directional. A steering group made up of regional stakeholders, including the Highways Agency and the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA), has considered these improvements.
	The Agency voiced their concern that the proposed Junction 20 improvements had not been adequately assessed against an alternative proposal to upgrade the A556 to motorway standard, which was considered as part of the A556/MIDMAN Study. The steering group therefore asked the Agency to carry out further technical work and report back to the NWRA. Subsequently, the Agency commissioned consultants to produce the A556 Area Study, which concluded that the A556 (M) scheme should be taken forward in place of widening the M6 from Junction 19 to 20 and the Junction 20 improvements.
	The Agency has now informed the NWRA of their conclusions. I understand that the NWRA considered the MIDMAN recommendations on 4 October and is in the process of making their views known to the Secretary of State. These and other issues will be considered by the Secretary of State and a formal announcement on the whole package of transport measures will be made in due course.
	If you would like any further information about these issues, please contact the Highways Agency's Regional Manager for Network Strategy in the North West, Malcolm Roberts, at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE—Tel: 01619305668

Smoky Vehicle Hotline

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the Vehicles Inspectorate of operating the Smoky Vehicle Hotline was in each of the past four years; what the estimated cost is for the present year; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The smoky vehicle hotline is one of several services provided by the Vehicle Inspectorate through its general enquiry unit. Hotline calls may also be made to the Inspectorate's area offices. For these reasons I cannot give an individual cost for the service. The costs are met within the total operational costs of the agency.

Smoky Vehicle Hotline

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many complaints about smoky vehicles have been made to the Smoky Vehicle Hotline (a) in each of the past four years and (b) during 2002;
	(2)  how many vehicles were inspected by the Vehicles Inspectorate (a) in each of the last four years and (b) during the current year to date because of an unsatisfactory response by the licensed operator to a letter from the Inspectorate following a complaint to the Smoky Vehicle Hotline;
	(3)  how many licensed operators were written to by the Vehicles Inspectorate (a) in each of the last four years and (b) during 2002 following complaints reported to the Smoky Vehicle Hotline.

David Jamieson: The table below shows the number of calls about smoky vehicles recorded by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last four years and during the financial year to date. The number of calls actionable by the Inspectorate, that is those calls which relate to ''O'' licensed vehicles and which contain sufficient information for the vehicle and operator to be identified, are also shown. The Inspectorate does not record the number of vehicles inspected due to an unsatisfactory response to a letter from the Inspectorate following a complaint to the smoky vehicle hotline. However, this does not indicate that no action is taken. Follow-up action may take the form of a fleet check and this enforcement activity would be recorded separately.
	
		Smoky vehicle hotline calls recorded by the Vehicle Inspectorate
		
			 Category April 2002–August 2002 01/02 00/01 99/00 98/99 
		
		
			 HGV 88 465 1,042 2,139 4,441 
			 PSV 112 310 824 1,524 2,965 
			 Other 74 304 656 743 1,693 
			 Total 274 1,079 2,522 4,406 9,099 
			 Of which calls actionable 151 469 1,405 2,611 —

Lighthouses

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has exercised his powers under Section 218 (2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to change the format of the General Lighthouse Fund's accounting records; what Accounts Direction he has issued to the General Lighthouse Fund on generally accepted accounting practice and additional disclosure requirements; and whether these requirements will be applied in the 2002 GLF report and Accounts.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State is responsible for the preparation of the General Lighthouse Fund Accounts. These accounts consolidate the accounts of the three General Lighthouse Authorities with those of the Fund. The format of the Accounts is agreed with the National Audit Office (NAO) having regard to generally accepted accounting policy and Treasury guidance. An accounts direction is under discussion with the NAO for agreement later this year. The 2002-03 accounts will be prepared to the new format.

Lighthouses

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual financial contribution in euros has been from the Irish Government under the terms of an agreement reached in 1985 for the sharing of certain costs incurred by the Commissioners of Irish Lights in the Republic of Ireland.

David Jamieson: The contribution from the Irish Government in 2000/01 was 2,110,825 million euros and in 2001/02 is forecast to be 3,214,780 million euros.
	The amount given is for each financial year, that is from April to March, and not each calendar year.

Lighthouses

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in discussions between the General Lighthouse Authorities and the Ministry of Defence on the transfer to the GLAs of the MoD's navigation buoys in the UK waters; and if he will make it his policy that the residual costs to the GLAs of maintaining the buoys be met by the MoD if the transfer takes place.

David Jamieson: The maintenance and funding of the aids to navigation required by the Ministry of Defence is a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence. Under Section 197(8) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 as amended, the General Lighthouse authorities are empowered to undertake buoy work for other bodies. Any agreement to carry out work for MOD or any other organisation would be subject to contractual negotiations. There are no plans to take on the MOD aids at the current time.

National Air Traffic Services

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the financial status of the NATS; when he expects the CAA to make a decision on the funding of NATS; what NATS have asked Her Majesty's Government to contribute; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I expect the CAA to publish and consult on its decision on the price cap review later this month. As a responsible shareholder, the Government working with the other parties concerned to prepare a package to ensure that NATS has a robust financial structure for the foreseeable future. The Government have said that they are prepared, on the appropriate terms, to match new private sector investment to this end.

National Air Traffic Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between his Department and the British Airports Authority on the possible investment by BAA in National Air Traffic Services.

David Jamieson: The parties concerned are having continuing discussions about the financial position of National Air Traffic Services Ltd (NATS), including BAA's proposed investment in the company. I shall make an announcement in due course.

National Air Traffic Services

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of National Air Traffic Services debt levels; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: As a responsible shareholder the Government, together with the other parties concerned, are preparing a package to ensure that NATS has a robust financial structure for the foreseeable future.

Airports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of the plans to add a new airport and increase the number of runways in the UK.

David Jamieson: The series of consultation documents, The Future of Air Transport in the United Kingdom, published on 23 July 2002 set out a number of possible options for new airport capacity including a new airport near Cliffe in North Kent and other options for additional runways at existing south east airports, options in the Midlands for an additional runway at Birmingham and East Midlands airports or a possible a new airport (to replace Birmingham), and an option for a new runway at either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport. The estimated capital costs of each option (# billion in today's prices), including where relevant the airport's share of associated road and rail access improvements, are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Cliffe 11.5 
			 Heathrow (one new runway) 4 
			 Stansted (one, two or three new runways) 4–8 
			 Birmingham 0.7–1.3 
			 East Midlands 1.2 
			 Midlands new site 6.9 
			 Edinburgh 0.4 
			 Glasgow 0.7 
		
	
	Not all these options would go forward, as many of them are alternatives. The purpose of the consultation process is to establish how much airport capacity is needed up to 2030 and where any new capacity should be located.

Airport Security

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken to improve the security arrangements of private companies operating at the UK's airports.

David Jamieson: My Department is consulting with industry on the implementation of procedures for creating a list of approved providers of aviation security services. Such companies will have to meet certain criteria, set down by my Department, before they can deliver services at UK airports.

Airport Security

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State Transport what measures he has taken or has planned for improving the arrangements for the security vetting of staff working in secure areas within the UK's airports.

David Jamieson: Counter Terrorist Checks have been extended in relation to security staff, and a requirement for security managers to undergo such a check was introduced in May. My Department is also working to introduce Criminal Record Checks for all new and existing holders of permanent passes to airport restricted zones.

Airport Security

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent action he has taken to review the security arrangements at UK airports.

David Jamieson: Aviation security remains at an enhanced level following the attacks on 11 September last year. Many of the additional measures introduced by other states following those attacks had long been in place in the UK, but we nonetheless ordered an immediate review and identified a package of additional security measures, including for raising security on the ground at airports. These have been taken forward with the industry. In addition, my right hon. friends the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Home Affairs earlier this year commissioned Sir John Wheeler to conduct a study of airport security, including the threat from serious and organised crime, with particular reference to the role of the police service. Sir John's report was recently received, and is now being considered.
	Airport security standards are kept under constant review, with my department's inspectors carrying out regular and frequent inspections to check and when necessary enforce them.

Alconbury Airfield

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the proposals concerning Alconbury Airfield set out in the national consultation, the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, will be capable of being progressed in the event of him determining in favour of the planning application of ADL concerning the Alconbury Airfield.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document is seeking views on a range of options, one of which is a small-scale airport development at Alconbury. Responses to this consultation will inform Minister's decisions on the policies to be published in the air transport White Paper.
	It is inappropriate to comment on any planning appeal ahead of the Inspector's report and subsequent decisions.

Heathrow Airport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many graves at Harmondsworth Church will need to be exhumed if the third runway is permitted at Heathrow Airport.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) is still subject to consultation.

Heathrow Airport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the levels of compensation will be for those residents affected by the possible construction of a third runway at Heathrow (a) if their homes are demolished and (b) if their homes are affected by (i) noise and (ii) air pollution.

David Jamieson: The principal Acts covering compulsory purchase and compensation are the Land Compensation Acts of 1961 and 1973, the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
	For people whose property is required to allow for a proposed development, compensation is payable on the basis that they should be no worse off in financial terms after the acquisition than they were before. This means that they receive compensation for the value of their property based on its open market value if there had been no proposal to acquire their property compulsorily plus the reimbursement of any actual costs and losses incurred as a result of having to move.
	In addition, both owner-occupiers and tenants who are displaced from their home as a result of a compulsory purchase, and have occupied the property as their main residence for a year or more, will be entitled to a home-loss payment. In the case of tenants this is currently #1,500 while owner-occupiers receive 10 per cent. of the value of their property subject to minimum and maximum thresholds which are currently set at #1,500 and #15,000. However, both the flat rate payable to tenants and the thresholds for owner-occupiers are currently being reviewed, including proposals for increasing the payments above the present #15,000 ceiling. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation document about this on 27 September, inviting comments by 6 January 2003.
	People whose property does not need to be demolished may be entitled to compensation to cover depreciation in the value of their land due to physical factors caused by the use of a development, such as noise, smell, smoke and fumes. In this case, compensation for the loss in value would be based upon prices current on the first claim day, which is 12 months after the first use of the public works.
	In addition to these rules, the consultation on The Future Development of Air Transport in the South East is seeking views on additional mitigation and compensation measures for people who might suffer noise impacts as a result of an airport development option. These measures are outlined in paragraphs 16.49–16.58 of the main consultation document.

West Midlands Airport

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the grid references of the site identified to the South East of Worcester as a possible site for a new West Midlands airport.

John Spellar: The Government is not putting forward for consultation any option for a new airport site in the Midlands other than that located between Rugby and Coventry, as detailed in ''The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Midlands'' consultation document.
	The Government, having identified a potential need to develop further airport capacity in the Midlands over the next 30 years, had earlier appraised a number of locations throughout the Midlands against a range of criteria in a five stage process. Details of this process are available in the document ''Preliminary Site Search of Options for New Airport Capacity to Serve the Midlands'' and its appendices which can be found on the Department for Transport's website www.airconsult.gov.uk. The result of this process was that the option of a new site between Rugby and Coventry, and no other site in the Midlands, should be included in the consultation.

Airports (Scotland)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in his consultation on airports a proposal for an international air transport hub in Scotland.

David Jamieson: The Government's Consultation Document, ''The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Scotland'' seeks views on a number of important aspects of air services within Scotland including a niche hub serving Scotland and the future development of airports.

Severnside International Airport

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the proposed Severnside International Airport will not be subject to consultation as a possible new airport.

David Jamieson: Developers have prepared a proposal for a new single runway airport set in the Severn Estuary (Severnside). Our analysis suggests that a new airport there would only be viable if Cardiff or Bristol airport, or both, were to close or become congested to the point of capacity. Our forecasts under all scenarios indicate that this is unlikely to occur within the forecasting period. With the investment required to establish such a facility and with spare capacity available at Cardiff over the next 30 year period it is unlikely to be commercially viable in its own right and could only be considered as an option, if at all, for other policy reasons.
	The Government will set out their conclusions in next year's White Paper on air transport. This White Paper will be informed by the current consultation on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom.

Cliffe Airport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Department has to consult local residents in Southend, West on Cliffe Airport.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document was published on 23 July 2002. We recognise the importance of taking into account, and seeking to balance appropriately, the views of all interested parties before coming to the decisions which will be set out in the air transport White Paper.
	To support the consultation process the Department for Transport has arranged a series of public exhibitions. To date exhibitions on the Cliffe airport option have been held at Basildon, Chatham and in two locations on the Hoo peninsula. I am also aware that a wide range of stakeholders have, or are in the process of, arranging events and meetings about this option. All responses to this consultation are welcome.

Cliffe Airport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations his Department has held with Southend Borough Council with regard to the new airport at Cliffe.

David Jamieson: Prior to publication of the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document on 23 July 2002 no discussions were held with Southend Borough Council, or any other local authority, regarding any of the airport development options.
	Since publication we have been consulting with all those with an interest in any of the options, including local authorities.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway flight path would over-fly (a) Canvey Island and (b) Hadleigh;
	(2)  how often he estimates use would be made of the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway if that option is adopted;
	(3)  if he plans to permit night use of the Cliffe airport option cross-wind runway;
	(4)  what his policy is on the fifth runway, with a flight path over Canvey Island and Leigh on Sea, included in the Cliffe Airport proposal.

David Jamieson: Paragraph 11.4 of the The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document makes clear that the option of a fifth runway to reduce night-time noise impacts was appraised.
	This runway was considered for use only by night-time arrivals from the South-West, to avoid overflying towns such as Gravesend and Tilbury. The results of this analysis is presented in the SERAS Stage Two Appraisal Findings report, paragraphs 11.8.7 to 11.8.10. These suggest that, for movements other than arrivals from the South West, the night-time noise impacts would be minimised by using a combination of the parallel runways. Therefore overflying of neither Canvey Island nor Hadleigh is envisaged.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new rail links he plans for the proposed Cliffe airport option.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document indicates in paragraphs 11.7 to 11.10 the type and scale of rail infrastructure that would be needed to connect the Cliffe airport option to the wider rail network.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the additional houses needed under the Cliffe airport option is over and above the targets for new house building set the Government for South Essex and North Kent.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document sets out in paragraph 11.29 that if the scale of housing development indicated in Regional Planning Guidance were rolled forward to 2030, it is considered likely that the airport employment needs could be met with fairly limited additional housing development.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue his white paper on airport capacity in the South East.

David Jamieson: When the current consultation exercise is concluded at the end of November this year, the Secretary of State will consider all responses before taking decisions in the air transport White Paper which we plan to publish as early as possible next year.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what stage the road link between the A130 Benfleet and the Cliffe airport option would be built if that option goes ahead.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document makes clear in paragraph 11.13 that as the airport grows a second road crossing of the Thames to the A13/A130 at Benfleet could, in time, give better access to the labour market north of the Thames. At this stage, we have not attempted to identify precisely when such a link might be needed.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what point he estimates the proposed Benfleet Tunnel Crossing, connecting Essex with the possible Cliffe airport, will go underground (a) on the mainland near Sadlers Farm, (b) on North Canvey near Waterside Farm and (c) on South Canvey near Thorney Bay.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify the location and design of highway connections for either the Cliffe option or any of the published options.
	As is made clear in The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document (paragraph 11.13), a second road crossing of the Thames to the A13/A130 at Benfleet could, in time, be needed to give better access to the labour market north of the Thames.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the rail connection between the Tilbury Southend line and the possible Cliffe airport option would be sited.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify the location and design of rail connections for either the Cliffe option or any of the published options.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the shortest distance is from the outer edge of the Cliffe airport option to each of the nearest communities.

David Jamieson: Plan 11.5 in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) Stage two Appraisal Findings (figures—chapter 11—Cliffe Marshes airport) gives a clear indication of the proximity of local communities to the published option.
	At this stage the location and scale of this, and all other published options, should be considered as indicative only. If any option is favoured in the air transport White Paper more detailed design and project definition will be required.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for a new Thames road and rail crossing as part of the Cliffe airport option strategic infrastructure development.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document sets out in paragraph 11.8 that a multi-modal (road and rail) Thames Crossing is assumed to be in place to support Cliffe airport option. This link might be progressed irrespective of whether a new airport is built at Cliffe.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the species of birds and other wildlife that would be adversely affected by the Cliffe airport option.

David Jamieson: As part of the South East and East of England Regional Airports study (SERAS), an appraisal was made of direct and indirect effects arising from habitat loss, damage or disturbance to species and habitats arising from the construction, presence and operation of the proposed new airport option. This included an initial assessment of the impacts on birds and other wildlife. A summary of the methodology adopted is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.7). A more detailed statement is contained in Environmental Appraisal Groups 2 and 3 report. This also contains the detailed assessments relevant to the Cliffe option.
	Specific to the Cliffe option, a preliminary assessment was made of the risk of birds colliding with aircraft. Details of this work are contained in the North Kent Marshes Ecological study Phase 1. Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the impact of the Cliffe Airport proposal on (a) flood risks, (b) sea defences and (c) ground water levels for (i) Essex and (ii) Canvey Island; and on what (A) evidence and (B) studies and models his estimates are based;
	(2)  what analysis he has made of the change in flooding risk to Canvey Island and Benfleet, if the Cliffe airport platform is built in the Thames.

David Jamieson: No specific analysis has been undertaken into the change in flooding risk to Canvey Island and Benfleet if the Cliffe airport option were to go ahead. If the Cliffe option were supported in the air transport White Paper, more detailed work into both the risk of flooding in the wider area and the measures required to counteract such a risk would be needed.
	A summary of the appraisal methodology regarding the water environment is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.8). The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are summarised in the South East airports consultation document (11.19–11.22) and shown in paragraphs 11.7.1 to 11.7.12 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report. Copies of all these reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the estimated time scale for the planning, building and commissioning of the Cliffe airport option.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document sets out on page 143 the key appraisal assumptions used in the analysis. The first new runway of any option (or the first two at Cliffe) was assumed to be open in 2011. Cliffe's third and fourth runways were assumed to be open in 2021.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what controls would be necessary to protect the Cliffe airport from birds; and what the (a) range and (b) extent of these controls is.

David Jamieson: The North Kent Marshes Ecological Study (phase 1 report), one of the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study supporting reports, included a preliminary assessment of the risk of birds colliding with aircraft. This also included an overview of potential mitigation measures.
	The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document makes clear in paragraph 11.18 that the Department for Transport would commission further research to assess fully the risk and the best mitigating measures. This work is now underway and will be used to inform Ministers' decisions.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which constituencies the 162,000 additional houses required by the Cliffe airport option would be built.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) identified, in broad terms, the scale of housing required, and urbanisation impacts, of all airport options. If any option is supported in the proposed air transport White Paper, the detailed urbanisation implications would need to be considered through the land-use planning system.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what strategic road infrastructure he plans as part of the proposed Cliffe airport option; and if this would form part of a new outer M25 project;
	(2)  if the proposed Benfleet tunnel crossing, associated with the Cliffe airport option, would be part of an outer M25 infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document indicates in paragraphs 11.11 to 11.13 the type of road infrastructure that would be needed both to connect the Cliffe airport option to the strategic network and the type and scale of improvements that might be required on the strategic network as a result of the construction of an airport at Cliffe (if that were to go ahead). The airports study did not consider any broader highway issues.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the spoil from the Shellhaven port Thames dredging operations will be used to build up the platform needed for the full four-runway airport in the Cliffe option.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify construction impacts to this level of detail. The appraisal methodology regarding construction impacts is contained in SERAS Stage 2 Methodology report (section 7.8).
	The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are shown in the SERAS Stage 2 Appraisal Summary tables (table 11.13).

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what models have been tested to predict the changes in (a) ground water and flood levels and (b) hydrographic flaws, around and in Canvey Island and Benfleet, resulting from the Cliffe airport option.

David Jamieson: No models have been used in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis to predict changes in either ground water and flood levels or hydrographic flaws. A summary of the appraisal methodology regarding the water environment is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.8).
	The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Cliffe option, are summarised in the South East airports consultation document (11.19–11.22) and shown in paragraphs 11.7.1 to 11.7.12 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report. Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lanes he expects the proposed Benfleet Tunnel crossing, associated with the Cliffe airport option, would have in each direction.

David Jamieson: At this stage we have not attempted to identify details of either when such a scheme might be needed or the design and project definition.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will identify the previously developed land that would be used to provide additional housing in the event of the Cliffe airport option being adopted.

David Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) identified, in broad terms, the scale of housing required, and urbanisation impacts, of all airport options. If any option is supported in the proposed air transport White Paper, the detailed housing implications would need to be considered through the land-use planning system.
	A more detailed assessment of the housing implications specific to the Cliffe airport option is set out in the SERAS Land Use and Urbanisation study (section A7). Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

IMO Convention

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations the Government will make to meet its pledge at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to encourage other Governments to ratify the International Maritime Organisation convention.

David Jamieson: The World Summit on Sustainable Development's Plan of Implementation identifies the enhancement of maritime safety and protection of the marine environment from pollution as important objectives, and in this context makes reference—inter alia—to actions at all levels to invite States to ratify or accede to and implement the conventions and protocols and other relevant instruments of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) relating to the enhancement of maritime safety and protection of the marine environment from marine pollution and environmental damage caused by ships.
	The majority of coastal and flag states are already parties to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization (''the IMO Convention''). The UK is active in seeking to ensure that states meet their responsibilities in the fields of maritime safety, and environmental protection from shipping, at the IMO.
	The UK will continue to be active, both in the forum of the EU and in that of the IMO, in encouraging other states to ratify and implement the IMO conventions which are of such importance to us and other maritime nations.
	In particular, since June 2001 the UK has been active within the EU in promoting a strategy for implementation of IMO conventions to significantly improve the compensation arrangements following pollution from shipping and to improve response to marine pollution.

CABINET OFFICE

e-government

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to enable those in rural areas to access e-government

Douglas Alexander: Electronic delivery of Government services provides the opportunity to bring them together in a convenient way for users, particularly those who find travel difficult. Over half of Government services are already available electronically.
	We are currently conducting a pilot—''UK online interactive''—through Digital Television. The service is currently available on the BSkyB platform, with work in progress to extend this to all platforms.

Terrorist Attacks

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent steps have been taken to bring Government departments together to take co-ordinated action in event of a terrorist attack.

Douglas Alexander: Since the attacks of 11 September 2001, the Government has conducted a wide ranging review of UK counter terrorist procedures and infrastructure, including physical and legislative measures to disrupt, deter and prevent terrorist activity. The Government's progress report ''The United Kingdom and the Campaign against International Terrorism'' published on 9 September, and placed in the library of the House, provides a summary of action taken to strengthen counter-terrorism measures within the UK.
	The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) was formed prior to the events of 11 September with a specific remit to co-ordinate improvements in civil emergency planning and since September 11 has been bringing departments and key organisations together to enhance preparedness for any major disruptive incident. This has included: working to designate lead departments for specific incidents, ensuring that they have satisfactory response plans and taking forward work towards a Civil Contingencies Bill. Further information on the preparedness of the UK to respond to a major terrorist attack can be found on the website maintained by the CCS at: http://www.ukresilience.info/home.htm

Terrorist Attacks

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent changes have been made in the areas of counter-terrorism and civil contingencies in event of a terrorist attack.

Douglas Alexander: The Government has established procedures for managing any terrorist incident, including the consequences. The response to any terrorist incident relies upon a co-ordinated approach and the Government draws upon the resources of relevant departments, the security and intelligence agencies, the police, the military, scientific and other specialist advice, local authorities and the emergency services. The UK crisis management machinery is based on a proven response capability, co-ordinated through the Cabinet Office. Each agency involved contributes its own specialist skills and resources to achieve an effective response and outcome to the incident.
	To further enhance the capacity at the centre of Government to co-ordinate security, intelligence and consequence management matters and deal with risks and major emergencies should they arise, Sir David Omand KCB was appointed as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office in June this year.

Terrorist Attacks

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent resources have been provided for the CCS for central co-ordination and direction.

Douglas Alexander: None. The total administrative resource budget for the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the 2002–03 financial year is #6.9 million.

Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the responsibilities are of the Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator at the Cabinet Office.

Douglas Alexander: Sir David Omand KCB was appointed as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office in June this year. This new post was created to enhance the capacity at the centre of Government to co-ordinate security, intelligence and consequence management matters and deal with risks and major emergencies should they arise.
	Sir David has taken from the Cabinet Secretary the following responsibilities:
	Accounting Officer for the Single Intelligence Account (SIA)
	Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretaries' Committee on the Intelligence Services (PSIS)
	Chairmanship of the Official Committee on Security
	Oversight of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and support for the Home Secretary in his role as Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Committee.
	Sir David's appointment does not affect the statutory relationships between the Heads of the Intelligence Agencies and their Secretaries of State, nor the statutory sole responsibility of the Agency Heads for the direction of the operations of their Agencies and their right of access to the Prime Minister.

Emergency Planning

Mark Francois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what resources the Government are allocating to emergency planning over one period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review, broken down into annual budget totals.

Douglas Alexander: The Government has allocated #19.038 million Civil Defence Grant to local authorities in England and Wales for each of the years 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Emergency Planning

Mark Francois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps Government is taking to prevent local authorities from spending emergency planning funds on other areas.

Douglas Alexander: The Civil Defence Grant provided to local authorities in England and Wales is a specific grant that must be used for emergency planning. The financial accounts of local authorities are audited to ensure this.

Emergency Planning

Mark Francois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government reduced the Civil Defence Grant budget for emergency planning in 2002.

Douglas Alexander: The Civil Defence Grant budget was not reduced for 2002–03. The Government allocated #18.97 million to local authorities in England and Wales for 2002–03, which was the same amount as in the previous year.

People's Panel

Alan Beith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was (a) the total cost of the People's Panel, (b) the title, client and value of each project undertaken using the panel and (c) the amount paid to MORI under their contract with the Department in respect of the panel in each financial year from 1998–99 to 2000–01.

Douglas Alexander: The total cost of People's Panel research was #1,408,365. Details on the title, client and value of each research project undertaken and on the payments to MORI and others have been placed in the libraries of the House today.

People's Panel

Alan Beith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the work of the People's Panel.

Douglas Alexander: Two independent evaluations were carried out—the first in 2000 and a second and final report which was published in July this year. Both were placed in the House libraries and are available on the Panel web site: http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page5627.as

Civil Service

Colin Pickthall: To ask the MCO how many (a) Civil Service posts and (b) departments have been devolved from London and the South East to other regions since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: In April 1997, there were 148,800 permanent Civil Service staff working in London and the South East. By April 2001, this had fallen to 144,550, representing a 1.4 per cent. reduction in the number of staff based in these areas. However, overall the remaining regions have seen an increase in the number of permanent Civil Service staff during the same period.

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Office since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 29 January, Official Report, column 251W, by my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley.

Consultancies

John Greenway: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the review of sport.

Douglas Alexander: The joint Strategy Unit/DCMS report on sport will be published in due course.

EU Fixed-Term Workers Directive

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if ministerial special advisers are fixed-term workers within the scope of the EU Fixed-Term Workers Directive;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the EU Fixed Term Workers Directive on the employment of special advisers, with particular reference to the provision that fixed term contracts will become permanent after four years.

Douglas Alexander: Special advisers are temporary civil servants appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995. The Government's view is that they cannot be employed on a permanent basis on the grounds that they have been recruited outside the Civil Service rules of fair and open competition, and they are not required to be politically impartial or serve a future Administration of a different political party. Special advisers are employed on fixed term contracts for the purposes of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 but the Government believes that special advisers' contracts cannot be converted to permanent ones by virtue of Regulation 8. Employing special advisers on a temporary basis is justified on objective grounds due to the special nature of their employment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum seekers

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersed asylum seekers are accommodated in Nottingham, broken down by the different housing sectors.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	As at the end of June 2002, 1,495* asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation in Nottingham.
	Information on the type of accommodation in which asylum seekers are housed is currently not available.
	Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	* Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Figures exclude cases where the asylum seekers support has been ceased.

Asylum seekers

Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have applied for asylum in Scotland in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers have had applications to remain in Scotland rejected in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Asylum seekers apply to be granted refugee status in the United Kingdom (UK) rather than specifically in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port (for those applications made at port—these accounted for 33 per cent. of applications in the period July 2001 to June 2002, inclusive). Corresponding information on initial decision outcomes relating to persons in particular areas of the UK is also not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

Asylum seekers

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what support will be made available from public funds for asylum seekers whose applications have taken more than six months to determine and who are unable to take up employment as a result of the recent withdrawal of the employment concession;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers whose applications have taken more than six months to determine have taken advantage of the concession to take up employment in each of the past three years; what estimate he has made of the resulting impact on public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Asylum seekers who are destitute can apply for support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). Support can include the provision of accommodation and financial support. The amount of financial support varies according to the person's circumstances but the rates of support applicable from 8 April this year are as follows:
	
		
			  Price 
		
		
			 Person aged 18–24 #29.89 
			 Person aged 25 or over #37.77 
			 Couple #59.26 
			 Lone Parent #37.77 
			 Child under 16 #33.50 
			 Child aged 16 or 17 #32.50 
		
	
	Where accommodation is provided the costs of this, together with any associated utility bills and council tax is met centrally. Asylum seekers are also eligible for NHS treatment and may be eligible for free prescriptions, dental and optical services.
	Children of compulsory school age here as part of an asylum seeking family are also entitled to attend school.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of asylum seekers who were granted permission to work under the terms of the employment concession and this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Asylum seekers

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places will be provided in the further asylum accommodation centres proposed by his Department.

Beverley Hughes: We propose to provide approximately 3,000 places in the trial accommodation centres.

Asylum seekers

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has set in terms of numbers for the level of pressure on local authorities' housing for those authorities not to be considered suitable locations for an asylum accommodation centre; and what the level of pressure on local authorities' housing is in each of (a) the proposed accommodation centre sites and (b) the other sites short-listed but not chosen.

Beverley Hughes: No such guidelines have been set. We do not envisage a demand on local authority housing as a consequence of those working or residing in an Accommodation Centre.

Asylum seekers

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which sites for proposed asylum accommodation centres his ministers have visited; and when these visits were made.

Beverley Hughes: My officials and I visited the proposed sites at DSDC Bicester on 26 June 2002, at RAF Newton on 2 July 2002 and at Throckmorton Airfield, Pershore on 8 October 2002.

Asylum seekers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Scottish Executive will have the final decision in the consideration of planning permission for an asylum seeker accommodation centre at RAF Turnhouse.

Beverley Hughes: Planning proposals in Scotland are determined by the Scottish planning authorities and the Scottish Ministers.
	If such a proposal for the Turnhouse site were to be pursued, it would be a matter for consideration by the City of Edinburgh Council in the first instance. If the Council were to object then the Home Office, as developer, would consider whether to refer the proposal to the Scottish Ministers for a final decision.

Asylum seekers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to identify potential sites for asylum seeker accommodation centres other than those already announced as under consideration.

Beverley Hughes: Site searching has continued since we made our initial announcement, as we said it would. We will not be putting into the public domain details of such sites unless and until they are considered to be a serious prospect for the siting of an accommodation centre.

Asylum seekers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation will be made available to people living close to sites of asylum seeker accommodation centres.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 19 April 2002, Official Report, column 1262W.

Asylum seekers

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in respect of Zimbabwean nationals since 1 January 2000.

Beverley Hughes: The table shows the initial decisions of Zimbabweans claiming asylum, excluding dependants, from January 2000 to June 20021,2.
	
		
			  Total Initial Decisions 3  Cases considered under normal procedures 4  Backlog clearance exercise 5  
			   Granted asylum Granted ELR 7  Refused Granted Asylum or ELR 7  under backlog criteria Refused under backlog criteria 6  
		
		
			 2000 595 20 10 525 35 5 
			 2001(p) 2,105 115 45 1,950 - - 
			 January to June 2002(p) 2,310 645 55 1,610 - - 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.
	2 Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
	3 Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	4 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	5 Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog.
	6 Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	7 ELR = exceptional leave to remain.
	(p) Figures for 2001 and 2002 are provisional and subject to change.
	Information on asylum applications and decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will be available from 29 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum seekers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog in asylum applications was at the end of each of the last 10 quarters for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, as at the end of each of the last 10 quarters, is shown in the table.
	
		Applications for asylum awaiting initial decision, Q1 2000–Q2 2002, principal applicants only
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 2000 Q1 114,600 
			  Q2 102,800 
			  Q3 96,900 
			  Q4 88,600 
			 2001(p) Q1 60,200 
			  Q2 47,800 
			  Q3 43,000 
			  Q4 38,800 
			 2002(p) Q1 34,800 
			  Q2 35,300 
		
	
	Notes:
	Rounded to nearest 100
	(p) provisional data
	Information on the number of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision is published quarterly. The next publication will be available from 29 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.htm.

Criminal Injuries Compensation (Children)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many applications by persons reaching the age of majority for a review of awards granted on application to the CICA/CICB by their parents in respect of sexual abuse suffered by them whilst children have been made in each of the last five years in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland;
	(2)  how many applications to the CICA for review of awards in respect of sexual abuse suffered by children made by persons reaching the age of majority have been successful in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many applications to the CICA for review of awards made in respect of sexual abuse suffered by children made by them once they have reached the age of majority have been reviewed in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: There is no provision in the current tariff-based scheme, nor the common law damages scheme which preceded it, for the review of an award made and accepted on behalf of a child who had suffered sexual abuse once the child reaches the age of majority. Consequently, since such cases lie outside the scope of the Scheme, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority does not collect data on this category of request.

Criminal Injuries Compensation (Children)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by the CICA in deciding whether an application for a review of an award made to a child who suffered sexual abuse can be reopened in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: Where an application has been finalised, the only circumstances in which it may be reopened are where there has been such a change in the victim's medical condition that an injustice would occur if the original decision were allowed to stand, or where the applicant has died as a result of the injury. In such circumstances, a case may be reopened more than two years after the date of the final decision, on the basis of evidence presented in support of the application to reopen, provided that it can be considered without a need for further extensive enquiries.
	However, where a decision made previously has neither been accepted nor been the subject of a Review application, then an application for Review may be considered beyond the 90 day period specified in the Scheme, in exceptional circumstances where it is considered in the interests of justice to do so.

Criminal Injuries Compensation (Children)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if it is his intention to institute a right of appeal for persons reaching the age of majority who make an application to the CICA/CICB for review of an award granted to them as a child when the application for such a review is refused by the authority;
	(2)  what plans he has to amend the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in respect of children who have been sexually abused.

Hilary Benn: Following a major public consultation exercise launched in 1999, the Compensation Scheme was thoroughly reviewed in 2000, and a number of improvements were made which came into force from 1 April 2001. These included significant changes to the tariff descriptions and levels of award relating to the physical and sexual abuse of children. In view of that recent review and consequent changes, there are no plans for further amendment to the Scheme at this time.

New Deal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently (a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseeker's allowance or other benefits.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not held centrally on the number of New Dealers who have found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks or who have returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits.
	According to available records, one of the New Dealers employed by the core Home Office has left the department to work for a private employment agency, and one successfully applied for a permanent post via a Home Office external recruitment scheme.

Prison Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what businesses have employment links with prisons; and what role the Government plays in cultivating these links.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 4 July 2002
	The Prison Service has employment links with a wide range of businesses and other organisations. These include commercial contracts to supply goods and services, and providing employment for prisoners whilst in custody, including in engineering, woodwork, clothing, laundries and light assembly, which can lead to continued employment for prisoners on release. In addition, with our support and involvement the Prison Service is developing its wider links with employers, the Confederation of British Industry, other employer and industry organisations, and Sector Skills Councils to help increase the number of prisoners getting jobs after release. In particular, its Custody to Work initiative is focusing on sectors in which existing or developing prison work and training activity overlap with feasible job opportunities for released prisoners. These include construction, catering, industrial cleaning, warehousing and distribution, and call centres.

Prison Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what education and training facilities are available in prisons; and what assistance is given to prisoners in getting a job on release.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 4 July 2002
	Our aim is to provide learning opportunities for prisoners which will enhance their chances of getting a job on release and help them resettle back in the community. All prisons have to provide a core curriculum of basic skills, social and life skills, information technology and preparation for work and are expected to meet basic skills targets. We have recently widened these targets to enable prisons to be more responsive to the range of prisoners' needs.
	Prisoners also have access to a range of vocational training courses, including construction, catering, industrial cleaning, motor mechanics, engineering and hairdressing. We are investing #20 million over the next two years to develop and modernise education and training so that it better fits the needs of the individual prisoner and the external employment market.
	Many establishments provide services to help prisoners find employment on release, often in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the National Probation Service or voluntary sector organisations. These include jobsearch training and support, and the piloting in eight prisons from Summer 2002 of new technology giving access to Jobcentre Plus information on employment vacancies across the country. The Prison Service Custody to Work initiative, with #30 million earmarked for 2001–04, is geared towards increasing employment and training outcomes for released prisoners through the development of such resettlement activity.
	In a survey in November and December 2001, 24 per cent. of sentenced prisoners nearing release said they had a job to go to on release and six per cent. a training place. A copy of Home Office Research Findings 173—''Jobs and homes: a survey of prisoners nearing release'' is in the Library. These findings suggest we have discharged the commitment we made in Autumn 2000 to double the proportion of prisoners getting jobs on release against the 10 per cent. baseline suggested by previous research. We have now set the Prison Service a target of increasing by 1,700 by April 2003—from an estimated 26,500 to 28,200 a year—the number of prisoners getting jobs or education or training places after release.

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners received university degrees in each of the last 10 years.

Hilary Benn: 133 prisoners have completed university degrees whilst in custody since 1991, and the numbers are broken down by year in this table.
	
		
			 1991–2001 Number of prisoners received university degrees in prisons 
		
		
			 1991–92 15 
			 1992–93 10 
			 1993–94 9 
			 1994–95 17 
			 1995–96 14 
			 1996–97 17 
			 1997–98 17 
			 1998–99 14 
			 1999–2000 5 
			 2000–01 15

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time spent by prison staff on training was during 2001–02.

Hilary Benn: Staff in prisons spent an average of 6.65 days each in staff training during 2001–02.

Prison Service

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time out of cell was in 2001–02 in each prison establishment in England and Wales.

Hilary Benn: The average time out of cell on weekdays and at weekends in each prison establishment in England and Wales during 2001–02 is given in the table.
	
		
			 Prison name Average weekday time out of cell 2001–02 Average weekend time out of cell 2001–02 
		
		
			 Acklington 10.3 8.8 
			 Albany 9.3 7.5 
			 Altcourse 10.1 10.1 
			 Ashfield 12.0 12.0 
			 Ashwell 15.5 15.5 
			 Askham Grange 16.0 16.0 
			 Aylesbury 8.0 5.9 
			 Bedford 8.1 6.8 
			 Belmarsh 5.8 4.1 
			 Birmingham 7.9 7.2 
			 Blakenhurst 10.1 9.4 
			 Blantyre House 15.3 15.3 
			 Blundeston 10.1 7.7 
			 Brinsford 8.3 6.5 
			 Bristol 7.8 6.2 
			 Brixton 7.9 6.3 
			 Brockhill 8.2 7.3 
			 Buckley Hall 13.4 13.1 
			 Bullingdon 8.9 6.7 
			 Bullwood Hall 11.5 8.8 
			 Camp Hill 10.3 10.3 
			 Canterbury 8.5 7.7 
			 Cardiff 8.9 5.9 
			 Castington 10.0 9.2 
			 Channings Wood 10.8 7.1 
			 Chelmsford 9.7 8.3 
			 Coldingley 12.3 10.2 
			 Cookham Wood 10.5 8.5 
			 Dartmoor 7.9 6.2 
			 Deerbolt 8.0 5.4 
			 Doncaster 11.4 11.4 
			 Dorchester 11.3 11.2 
			 Dovegate 0.0 0.0 
			 Dover 8.4 7.6 
			 Downview 10.8 10.4 
			 Drake Hall 24.0 24.0 
			 Durham 7.0 4.0 
			 East Sutton Park 17.2 17.2 
			 Eastwood Park 10.0 8.5 
			 Elmley 8.1 7.9 
			 Erlestoke 11.1 10.4 
			 Everthorpe 11.0 7.9 
			 Exeter 8.5 7.5 
			 Featherstone 8.8 10.1 
			 Feltham 8.0 7.5 
			 Ford 13.3 13.3 
			 Forest Bank 11.4 11.5 
			 Foston Hall 10.3 9.1 
			 Frankland 9.4 7.3 
			 Full Sutton 9.5 7.5 
			 Garth 10.0 7.5 
			 Gartree 10.1 7.3 
			 Glen Parva 5.8 3.5 
			 Gloucester 8.7 5.0 
			 Grendon 15.4 14.1 
			 Guys Marsh 8.7 7.4 
			 Haslar 11.2 10.8 
			 Hatfield 13.5 13.5 
			 Haverigg 11.8 11.8 
			 Hewell Grange 24.0 24.0 
			 High Down 8.3 5.9 
			 Highpoint 8.8 8.8 
			 Hindley 7.2 4.4 
			 Hollesley Bay 0.0 0.0 
			 Holloway 6.0 6.11 
			 Holme House 5.7 5.1 
			 Hull 7.6 5.7 
			 Huntercombe 9.8 8.1 
			 Kingston 11.8 7.7 
			 Kirkham 13.5 13.0 
			 Kirklevington 19.0 19.0 
			 Lancaster 10.1 7.2 
			 Lancaster Farms 7.8 5.1 
			 Latchmere House 19.0 19.0 
			 Leeds 8.6 7.7 
			 Leicester 10.4 8.1 
			 Lewes 9.2 6.6 
			 Leyhill 23.3 23.3 
			 Lincoln 10.5 9.0 
			 Lindholme 11.7 9.6 
			 Littlehey 9.3 8.4 
			 Liverpool 6.9 4.1 
			 Long Lartin 9.2 9.2 
			 Low Newton 11.0 10.0 
			 Lowdham Grange 12.4 12.4 
			 Maidstone 10.4 8.0 
			 Manchester 10.5 8.5 
			 Moorland 9.0 5.7 
			 Morton Hall 15.0 15.5 
			 Mount 7.8 7.0 
			 New Hall 9.6 7.7 
			 North Sea Camp 19.5 19.5 
			 Northallerton 7.8 5.5 
			 Norwich 8.6 7.6 
			 Nottingham 9.1 5.0 
			 Onley 8.9 6.8 
			 Parc 9.7 9.9 
			 Parkhurst 9.7 8.6 
			 Pentonville 4.6 3.5 
			 Portland 9.8 5.7 
			 Preston 8.4 5.0 
			 Ranby 13.4 12.5 
			 Reading 8.3 7.1 
			 Risley 11.0 10.5 
			 Rochester 9.6 7.5 
			 Rye Hill 0.0 0.0 
			 Send 12.7 12.8 
			 Shepton Mallet 10.5 9.0 
			 Shrewsbury 10.0 10.5 
			 Stafford 8.9 7.7 
			 Standford Hill 24.0 24.0 
			 Stocken 11.4 11.4 
			 Stoke Heath 10.2 10.0 
			 Styal 11.6 11.4 
			 Sudbury 24.0 24.0 
			 Swaleside 9.7 7.4 
			 Swansea 9.3 8.2 
			 Swinfen Hall 10.3 6.8 
			 Thorn Cross 12.5 12.5 
			 Usk 13.6 11.9 
			 Verne 16.0 16.0 
			 Wakefield 8.8 6.8 
			 Wandsworth 7.2 7.6 
			 Wayland 9.5 8.5 
			 Wealstun 12.5 12.4 
			 Weare 10.1 9.4 
			 Wellingborough 10.0 7.8 
			 Werrington 9.8 9.8 
			 Wetherby 9.9 5.5 
			 Whatton 12.8 12.5 
			 Whitemoor 9.9 7.5 
			 Winchester 8.6 6.4 
			 Wolds 8.8 9.0 
			 Woodhill 10.2 8.5 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 8.5 6.9 
			 Wymott 10.0 10.0

Prison Service

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent developments in the field of prison education.

Hilary Benn: The Government is making progress on its commitment to improve the quality and quantity of prison education by investing in the Prison Service's capacity to deliver, and by bringing prison education into line with mainstream initiatives.
	We have set targets in basic and work-related skills and are on course to achieve them this year. We are investing #20 million in capital projects which will support improvements in education and training. We are also improving quality by implementing national standards through inspection and through support for establishments in planning. We are also introducing new approaches to learning: in basic skills and citizenship and through Learndirect.
	Younger offenders we have introduced a new national specification for learning and skills which will significantly enhance provision for them both in custody and the community, and teaching and learning is now supported in the classroom by learning support assistants.

Armed Robberies, East Preston

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit the shopkeepers in East Preston, West Sussex, to discuss armed robberies at retail premises.

John Denham: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have no plans to make a Ministerial visit to East Preston in the near future.
	We are, however, aware that Arun Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is actively engaged with the Traders Association and the local community to discuss and tackle the crime problems retailers in this area are facing.

Armed Robberies, East Preston

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many armed robberies have been recorded in East Preston, West Sussex, in the past two months.

John Denham: The requested information is not available centrally.

Vandalism

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving acts of vandalism were committed by young people between the ages of 11 and 16 years in the last year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: Statistics of recorded crime do not include any details of offenders.
	Offences involving acts of vandalism are not distinguishable from other offences of criminal damage on the Home Office Court Proceedings and Cautions Database.

Communications Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to communications data, how many Immigration Service officials he estimates will be authorised to seek access to communications data and how many times officials have sought access to such data from communications providers such as Internet service providers under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service has previously accessed communication data under the Data Protection Act 1998 through police Single Points of Contact. The Immigration Service did not retain a central register of the number of inquiries undertaken.
	The Immigration Service is seeking to become a prescribed authority under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Chapter II in order to access communications data. Once approved, any immigration official investigating immigration related crime would be able to submit an application for communication data via a single point of contact.

Communications Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the code of practice in relation to communications data; which public authorities will be able to have access to communications data; if he will make a statement on the support he has obtained from telecommunications companies for the concept of a voluntary code of practice to govern the access to communications data; whether he intends to use statutory powers to place access to communications data on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the collective statement made by Data Protection Commissioners with regard to his proposals for the retention of communications data.

David Blunkett: Communications data may be supplied voluntarily for specified purposes (e.g. investigation of crime) under the Data Protection Act 1998. A more tightly controlled regulatory regime for access to communications data will be provided for under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). Chapter II of Part I of the Act explains the duties and responsibilities placed upon each party involved in the process, and creates a system of safeguards reflecting Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). The overall regime will be subject to oversight by the Interception of Communications Commissioner.
	The Chapter II provisions are subject to a statutory code of practice, a draft of which was published for public consultation during summer 2001. The code relates to the powers and duties conferred or imposed under Chapter II. It provides guidance on the procedures that must be followed before access to communications data can take place under those provisions. RIPA provides that the code is admissible in evidence in criminal and civil proceedings. We aim to implement the Chapter II provisions in 2003.
	I will be bringing forward proposals in relation to any additional public authorities under Chapter II Part I of RIPA following detailed public consultation.
	We are still in consultation with the communications service providers on the production of a voluntary code of practice to cover the retention of communications data by them under the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, and have noted the statement by the Data Protection Commissioners with regard to proposals on data retention.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders, Hertsmere

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made in respect of residents of (a) Hertsmere and (b) Hertfordshire in each year since the inception of the orders.

John Denham: An anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) is a civil order made by a court which currently can be applied for by a local authority or the police. The table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of ASBOs issued within Hertfordshire by local government authority up to March 2002.
	We are aware that the number of ASBOs made locally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	
		Number of anti-social behaviour orders reported to the Home Office which have been issued as from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 within Hertfordshire by local government authority
		
			 Area From 01-Apr-99 to 31-May-00 1  From 01-Jun-00 to 31-Dec-00 From 01-Jan-01 to 31-Dec-01 From 01-Jan-02 to 31-Mar-02 Total 
		
		
			 Police Force Area / MCC 2  
			 Hertfordshire 1 1 7 — 9 
			 Local Government Authority 
			 Cheshunt BC .. — 1 — 1 
			 Stevenage BC .. — 4 — 4 
			 Three Rivers DC .. — 2 — 2 
			 Welwyn Hatfield DC .. 1 — — 1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Total figure only available for Hertfordshire police force area within this period. Local Government Authority not known.
	2 MCC—Magistrates' Courts Committee area.
	.. Not available.

Police, Hertsmere

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were in post in (a) Hertsmere and (b) Hertfordshire (i) on 1 May 1997, (ii) on 1 May 2001 and (iii) according to the most recent figures available.

John Denham: Police strength information at force level is collected twice a year in March and September. The information requested for Hertfordshire Constabulary is set out in the table. The latest figures are for March 2002. Information for individual divisions/basic command units is not collected centrally.
	Following boundary changes on 1 April 2000, responsibility for policing some parts of the Metropolitan Police area was transferred to Hertfordshire. A number of Metropolitan Police Officers were seconded to Hertfordshire following this change. Many of these officers returned to the Metropolitan Police Service during 2001/2002 and this is reflected in the fall in strength between March 2001 and March 2002.
	
		
			 Year as at 31 March Hertfordshire Police Strength 
		
		
			 1997 1,759 
			 2001 1,922 
			 2002 1,825 
		
	
	Source:
	Home Office Statistical Bulletins—Police Service Strength

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures have been taken since 1997 to ensure that alleged or indicted Nazi war criminals (a) have not visited and (b) are not now in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: No measures aimed specifically at alleged or indicted Nazi war criminals have been put in place since 1997. In our White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven, the Government has made clear its intention to strengthen its ability to deal with suspected and convicted war criminals by:
	Up-dating relevant immigration and nationality legislation
	Ensuring better co-ordination between the Home Office and all other Departments and agencies who have an interest in this area.
	Work is currently underway to achieve both of these commitments.

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the UK Public Records to identify alleged or indicted Nazi war criminals living in the UK.

Bob Ainsworth: We have no present plans to conduct a general review of public records to identify Nazi war criminals. However, the police will continue to consult public records where necessary to help them investigate individual cases.

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what improvements have been made in international collaboration and exchanges of information between Government authorities, law enforcement agencies and archive centres on alleged or indicted Nazi war criminals since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: In June 2002, the European Union agreed to set up a network of contact points to exchange information to help investigate and prosecute suspected war criminals. A further instrument is being negotiated which would facilitate the exchange by Member States of information on war crimes held by their immigration authorities, to assist criminal investigations.
	In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is developing increasing links with authorities in other countries enabling the informal exchange of information about war criminals generally.

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contacts he maintains with Government agencies in Eastern Europe and South America about alleged or indicted Nazi war criminals living in the UK.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no regular contacts with authorities in those countries concerning Nazi war criminals living in the United Kingdom. However, the police have visited Eastern Europe as necessary when investigating individual cases, and European Union enlargement will bring a number of Eastern European countries into the European Union's arrangements for exchanging information on war criminals.

Personal Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have personal data relating to fingerprints or DNA stored on national police computers; and what percentage of these records relate to individuals who are (a) not criminals and (b) not suspected of any criminality.

John Denham: On September 2002 the total number of profiles held on the National DNA Database was 1,884,450. Of these there were 55,032 profiles marked as acquitted. These were all taken under Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) from all those charged with or informed they will be reported for a recordable offence, but against whom the prosecution was not proceeded with or who were subsequently acquitted by the courts.
	The total number of fingerprints on the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) was 5,213,106 on 3 October 2002. Currently if a prosecution is not proceeded with or a person is acquitted by the courts, the fingerprint record is weeded from NAFIS once the result is recorded on the Police National Computer. In light of the changes in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, further proposals are under consideration in relation to the system to allow for the retention of fingerprints on NAFIS in such cases.
	The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 changes to PACE have been subject to Judicial Review. On 12 September 2002 the Court of Appeal ruled on the cases of S & Marper v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police that the new legislation did not breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

Personal Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the revised certificate he signed last December with respect to section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 has been used by the Security Service in relation to the disclosure of personal data to the Service; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: None in legal proceedings.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 June 2002, Official Report, column 1306W outlining circumstances in which the Security Service might provide an explanation of the operation of section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and a copy of the revised certificate.

ID Cards

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the response of the Information Commissioner to his consultation concerning his recent proposals for ID/entitlement cards; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: In line with the Government's code of practice on written consultations, all comments received on the consultation paper published by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 3 July may be published unless the person or organisation submitting them asks for them not to be.
	The consultation period closes on 10 January 2003. A response from the Information Commissioner has not yet been received. The Commissioner's office has confirmed that there would be no objection to placing a copy of its response in the Library and this will be done when it is received.

Immigration

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria his Department follows for (a) initiating deportation proceedings under the Immigration Act 1971 and (b) initiating denaturalisation proceedings under the British Nationality Act 1981.

Beverley Hughes: A person who is not a British citizen is liable to deportation on the grounds that this would be conducive to the public good, or if another person to whose family he belongs is being deported (limited to the spouse and any minor dependent children of the person being deported). He or she may also be deported following a recommendation made by a court under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971.
	Before any decision to deport is taken, all relevant factors are taken into account, including: age; length of residence in and strength of connections with the United Kingdom; personal history, including character, conduct and employment record; domestic circumstances; criminal record; compassionate circumstances; and any representations received on the person's behalf (paragraph 364–367 of the Immigration Rules (HC395 as amended)).
	The criteria for deprivation of citizenship are set out in section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The grounds are that the person either obtained his nationality by fraud, has shown himself to be disloyal or disaffected towards Her Majesty, has unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy in time of war, or has been sentenced within five years of becoming British to at least 12 months imprisonment.

Immigration

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the handling of the application for indefinite leave to remain by Irena Iotova Nikolova (C1059475) of Taunton.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate notified Mrs. Nikolova's representatives on 1 October 2002 that she had been granted indefinite leave to remain. A letter was enclosed apologising for both the delay in resolving her case and the administrative failures which resulted in the original application being erroneously refused. I echo those apologies.

Immigration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of illegal refugees entering Britain in each of the last five years;
	(2)  What estimate he has made of the number of refugees who have (a) entered Britain illegally, (b) remained in Britain after being refused asylum and (c) been given exceptional leave to remain in Britain after their asylum application has failed in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The number of principal asylum applicants granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years is given in the table.
	
		
			 Year Grants of ELR 1 , 2  Granted ELR under clearance backlog exercise 
		
		
			 1997 3,115 — 
			 1998 3,910 — 
			 1999 2,465 10,195 
			 2000 11,475 10,020 
			 2001(p) 21,175 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	1 includes reconsideration cases in 2000 or 2001 where an asylum decision by the Secretary of State is later required to be reconsidered as a result of additional information or significant changes in current circumstances and country information.
	2 Data for 2000 may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(p) Data are provisional and subject to change.
	I regret that there are currently no estimates of the number of persons who have entered Britain illegally or remained in Britain after being refused asylum. The Research Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office has commissioned research to look at the methodology of sizing the illegal population and is due to report next year.

Immigration

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many organisations, broken down by region and nation, have been approved for registration or exemption by the office of the Immigration Service Commissioner.

Beverley Hughes: As of 1 October 2002, the number of organisations registered with, or exempted by, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) was as follows:
	
		
			 England Organisations registered with the OISC Organisations exempted by the OISC 
		
		
			 Avon 1 8 
			 Bedfordshire 2 10 
			 Berkshire 4 10 
			 Buckinghamshire 1 7 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 8 
			 Cheshire 1 9 
			 Cleveland 0 5 
			 Cornwall 1 8 
			 County Durham 0 8 
			 Cumbria 0 8 
			 Derbyshire 1 7 
			 Devon 0 13 
			 Dorset 0 10 
			 East Sussex 0 10 
			 East Yorks 1 1 
			 Essex 0 27 
			 Gloucestershire 0 7 
			 Hampshire 0 24 
			 Herefordshire 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 1 17 
			 Isle of Wight 0 1 
			 Kent 1 26 
			 Lancashire 8 46 
			 Leicestershire 0 15 
			 Lincolnshire 0 9 
			 London 87 183 
			 Merseyside 1 22 
			 Middlesex 13 14 
			 Norfolk 0 10 
			 North Humberside 0 2 
			 North Yorkshire 0 10 
			 Northamptonshire 0 10 
			 Northumberland 0 7 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 11 
			 Oxfordshire 1 14 
			 Shropshire 0 6 
			 Somerset 0 5 
			 South Humberside 0 2 
			 South Yorkshire 0 24 
			 Staffordshire 0 15 
			 Suffolk 0 11 
			 Surrey 10 29 
			 Tyne & Wear 0 9 
			 Warwickshire 0 7 
			 West Midlands 9 27 
			 West Sussex 0 11 
			 West Yorkshire 3 24 
			 Wiltshire 2 8 
			 Worcestershire 0 6 
			  
			 Total 148 762 
		
	
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Northern Ireland Organisations registered with the OISC Organisations exempted by the OISC 
			 County Antrim 1 16 
			 County Down 1 7 
			 County Armagh 0 3 
			 County Tyrone 0 3 
			 County Fermanagh 0 1 
			 County Derry 0 1 
			  
			 Total 2 31 
		
	
	
		
			 Scotland Organisations registered with the OISC Organisations exempted by the OISC 
		
		
			 Aberdeen City 0 1 
			 Aberdeenshire 0 1 
			 Angus 0 3 
			 Argyll & Bute 0 0 
			 Clackmannanshire 0 0 
			 Comhairle nan Eilean 
			 Siar 0 4 
			 Dumfries & Galloway 1 7 
			 Dundee City 0 1 
			 East Ayrshire 0 1 
			 East Dunbartonshire 0 1 
			 East Lothian 0 2 
			 East Renfrewshire 0 1 
			 Edinburgh City 0 10 
			 Falkirk 0 3 
			 Fife 0 0 
			 Glasgow City 3 10 
			 Highland 0 5 
			 Inverclyde 0 0 
			 Midlothian 0 3 
			 Moray 0 1 
			 North Ayrshire 0 6 
			 North Lanarkshire 0 5 
			 Orkney Islands 1 1 
			 Perth & Kinross 0 2 
			 Renfrewshire 0 1 
			 Scottish Borders 0 4 
			 Shetland Islands 0 1 
			 South Ayrshire 0 0 
			 South Lanarkshire 0 4 
			 Stirling 0 2 
			 West Dunbartonshire 0 2 
			 West Lothian 0 0 
			  
			 Total 5 82 
		
	
	
		
			 Wales Organisations registered with the OISC Organisations exempted by the OISC 
		
		
			 Blaenau Gwent 0 1 
			 Bridgend 0 1 
			 Caerphilly 0 1 
			 Cardiff 0 7 
			 Carmarthenshire 0 3 
			 Ceredigion 0 2 
			 Conwy 0 1 
			 Denbighshire 0 1 
			 Flintshire 0 2 
			 Isle of Anglesey 0 1 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 0 1 
			 Monmouthshire 0 4 
			 Neath Port Talbot 0 3 
			 Newport 1 2 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 2 
			 Powys 0 3 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 0 3 
			 Swansea 0 2 
			 Torfaen 0 1 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 0 3 
			 Wrexham 0 1 
			  
			 Total 1 45

Immigration

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the time limits on early clearance certificates placed in passports abroad start from when the visa is granted and is given an early clearance certificate stamp.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	From 2 October 2000, entry clearances have conferred leave to enter. Leave to enter the United Kingdom is considered to commence on the ''valid from'' date on the entry clearance and not from the date of arrival in the United Kingdom.

Special Advisers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign visits have been made by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and what the (a) destination and (b) cost of each visit was.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the replies my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, gave to the hon. Member for Chelmsford West, (Mr. Burns), on 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 891W, the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 1494W and the hon. Member for West Marland and Lonsdale (Mr. Collins) on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 1478W.
	Information for the period beyond March 2002 will be available in due course.

Marsham Street

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which refrigerant will be used in the air conditioning in his Department's new building in Marsham Street.

Beverley Hughes: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 35W.

Death Forms

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to require a practitioner other than the signatory to the death certificate to sign a cremation form;
	(2)  if he will introduce a requirement for post mortem examination when there is insufficient evidence relating to the nature of the illness suffered to complete a death certificate satisfactorily.

Hilary Benn: The appropriate processes for the investigation and certification of deaths are currently being explored by the review of coroner services, which is due to report next year. The Shipman Inquiry is also examining ways to make existing procedures more effective. We propose to consider what action might be taken in this regard in the light of the recommendations to be made by the review and the Inquiry in due course.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 5 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Sulayman Yunes.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 October 2002.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 13 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms S. Mohammed.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 September 2002.

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to letters from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight dated 6 February, 18 March, 1 May, 9 May and 24 June concerning an application dated 20 June for leave to remain on the basis of a subsisting relationship.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Member on 22 August 2002. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Ronald Biggs

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Ronald Biggs was permitted to marry whilst serving a prison term.

Hilary Benn: Prisoners have a right to marry under the Marriage Act 1949, as amended. In Mr. Biggs' case, the status of the spouse as a foreign national did not affect this right; nor has the marriage altered this status.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many caseworkers were employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information identifying the number of caseworkers within the Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD) separately from other staff was not collected prior to 2001. The number of caseworkers in the ICD in Croydon since 2001 is as follows:
	2001–910
	2002–876 (this excludes 264 casework staff who transferred to the Immigration Service).
	The following table shows the number of staff in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in each year since 1997.
	
		
			 Year Staff numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			 April 1997 5,697 
			 April 1998 5,160 
			 April 1999 5,750 
			 April 2000 6,582 
			 April 2001 9,757 
			 April 2002 10,878

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what refreshment provisions are available to members of the public when attending the Immigration and Nationality Department in Croydon.

Beverley Hughes: The refreshment needs of the Public Enquiry Office (PEO) Croydon first and second floors are currently served by 12 vending machines, six per floor. The machines on each floor offer a range of both hot and cold drinks while light snacks such as sandwiches, crisps and confectionery are available. There are a further four machines which serve the third and fourth floors—the Asylum Screening Unit (ASU) and Interview Booking Unit (IBU), each floor having two machines. All machines are checked regularly throughout the day and restocked as required. Callers to any of the units of the combined public offices have access to all vending machines.

Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rules are governing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco (a) on police premises, (b) in administration areas, (c) by police officers on duty outside police premises, (d) by staff on prison premises, (e) by prison officers on duty outside prisons, (f) by staff on fire service premises and (g) by fire staff on operational duties outside prisons.

John Denham: For the Police Service, the Code of Conduct, appended to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999, states that, whilst on duty, police officers must be sober. The Code also states that officers should not consume alcohol on duty unless specifically authorised to do so or it becomes necessary for the proper discharge of police duty. It is for chief officers to determine local policy on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco on police premises and in administration areas and on the consumption of tobacco by police officers on duty outside police premises.
	The Prison Service's policy is that no person shall bring alcohol into a prison without the permission of the Governor. Staff are not permitted to consume alcohol whilst on duty, and it is a disciplinary offence to do so. Prison Service policy on smoking is contained in Instruction to Governors 16/1996, Work Place Smoking Policy (a copy of which can be found in the Library) and Governors are required to develop local policies which reflect the guidance in the Instruction. The Instruction advises Governors to impose a ban on smoking in office accommodation including single occupancy offices, corridors, staircases, etc. It does not, however, give advice regarding staff on duty outside prisons, but local policies should address that issue.
	I understand from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that there is no centrally issued advice to the Fire Service addressing the consumption of alcohol or tobacco by staff on Fire Service premises or by staff on operational duties outside premises. However, under the Code of Conduct in the Fire Service (Discipline) Regulations 1985, it is an offence for an officer to be unfit for duty. The offence is defined in the Regulations as follows:
	''Unfit for duty, which offence is committed where a member of a fire brigade renders himself unfit through drink or drugs or similar means for duties which he is or will be required to perform or which it is reasonable to foresee that he will have to perform''.

Mr. Aiden Hulme

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for the prompt and effective medical treatment for the leg injury sustained prior to his arrest by Mr. Aiden Hulme, now a prisoner at Her Majesty's Prison, Belmarsh.

Hilary Benn: For reasons of medical confidentiality I am unable to disclose medical details related to any prisoner, but I am advised that Mr. Hulme is receiving the appropriate and necessary treatment for his condition. Belmarsh prison has well-established arrangements with hospitals in the local area and is able to call upon their services when appropriate. Prisoners receive medical treatment according to their individual needs.

Prisons (Internal Discipline)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with prison governors concerning implementation of the European Court of Human Rights' judgment on the protection of the right to a fair trial in relation to internal disciplinary procedures; and what measures he has taken for the adjustment of procedures to prevent violations.

Hilary Benn: I have had detailed discussions with the Director General of the Prison Service on the implications of the ruling for internal disciplinary procedures. On 14 August, following consultation with Governors, we laid before Parliament amendments to the Prison and Young Offender Rules. The changes strengthened some of the existing punishments, and also provided for independent adjudicators to hear the most serious cases. The adjudicators will be able to impose additional days as a punishment. Prisoners in hearings before the independent adjudicators will have a right to legal representation. Until the end of March 2003, the Lord Chancellor has agreed that District Judges may act as adjudicators. They began hearing cases on 7 October. We shall decide on longer term arrangements in the light of their work.

Plastic Baton Round

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was of the North Wales Police investigation into the effectiveness of the use of a plastic baton round on 27 February; and at what distance from the target the baton round was discharged.

John Denham: As a result of the discharge of a baton round on 27 February, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) supervised an investigation which was carried out by a senior officer in the North Wales Force. It concluded that the use and level of force on this occasion was proportionate and entirely justified. As a result of this investigation, a number of recommendations were made concerning the use of the baton round, all of which have been welcomed by the Force. North Wales Police inform me that the baton round was fired from approximately six metres (19ft/20ft) during the incident.

Motorway Service Stations

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes have been recorded as having taken place at motorway service stations in West Berkshire in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of crime and (b) crimes occuring at Burghfield, Chieveley and Membury service stations separately; and what the overall figures is as a proportion of total crimes of each category in West Berkshire.

John Denham: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Public Buildings

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what part designers and contractors play in the Home Office Action Plan for Better Public Buildings.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office Action Plan responds to the initiatives of Her Majesty's Treasury's ''Achieving Excellence'' and the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) ''Rethinking Construction'', along with the procurement strategies advocated by the Office of Government Commerce.
	The Plan provides for a more structured approach to promoting good design as early as possible in the procurement process, whether it is through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or publicly funded. The outcome of this should be that designers are more carefully selected for their technical skills and capabilities, and contractors are engaged earlier to make a greater contribution to design and specification, and enabling greater value for money to be achieved.

Metropolitan Police Housing

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much Government grant has been received by the Metropolitan Police to house officers under the Government's Starter Homes Initative.

John Denham: A #16 million Starter Home Initiative (SHI) grant has been allocated to Tower Homes, working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police, to help some 550 police and key civilian staff in London to buy homes within reasonable travelling distance of their workplace. The grant is available up to March 2004.

Metropolitan Police Housing

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what his policy is towards sales of section houses and other residential accommodation owned by the Metropolitan Police;
	(2)  how many section houses and other residential accommodation owned by the Metropolitan Police are for sale; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Policy on the sale of police property is a matter for Police Authorities. Individual Authorities take all relevant factors into account when developing policies and making decisions on sales.
	The Clerk to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) informs me that the Authority's residential estate is primarily held as an aid to recruitment. Sales of properties are only undertaken when no other viable alternative exists for their continued retention in the residential portfolio.
	The Clerk to the Metropolitan Police Authority informs me that one section house and three other properties in the MPA residential estate are currently being offered for sale.

Metropolitan Police Housing

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers have been housed under the Government's Starter Homes Initative.

John Denham: I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that by 30 September 2002 39 police officers and three civilian support staff have found homes to purchase under the Starter Home Initiative scheme. 16 police officers and one civilian have completed their purchase or exchanged contracts prior to completion.

Ashfield Young Offenders Institution

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of staff at HMP 4 YOI Ashfield in post one year ago remain in post at the latest date for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: On 30 September 2001, Premier Prisons had 242 staff in post at Ashfield prison and young offender institutions. On 30 September 2002, 177 (73 per cent.) of these staff were still in post.

Cybercrime

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to ratify the European Convention on Cybercrime.

Bob Ainsworth: No timetable for United Kingdom ratification of the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention has yet been set.

Terrorism

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the risk to the UK of a terrorist attack; what counter-measures he has proposed; and what improvements have been made to strategic co-ordination and direction by central government.

David Blunkett: The terrorist threat to the United Kingdom is monitored very closely and remains under constant review. The Government published on 9 September 2002 a progress report titled ''The United Kingdom and the Campaign against International Terrorism''. The report, which summarises measures taken within the UK to counter the terrorist threat since 11 September 2001 and the areas where the Government are planning to focus its future effort, can be accessed via the Cabinet Office website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk.
	In October 2001, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister approved the establishment of a Ministerial Sub-Committee of the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee to oversee the Government's role in the international coalition against terrorism. DOP(IT) Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy, Sub-Committee on International Terrorism—was set up with a remit to keep under review the Government's policy on international terrorism, in particular the political, military and humanitarian response to the attacks in the United States on 11 September and preventative security measures in the UK and overseas.
	As part of this new Sub-Committee, the Prime Minister established a Ministerial Group, which I chair, to keep under review policy on protective security. DOP(IT)(T)—Ministerial Group on Protective and Preventative Security—was set up with a remit to keep under review the Government's policy on preventative and precautionary security measures to counter the threat of terrorism in the UK and to British interests overseas.
	I also maintain oversight of the United Kingdom's capacity to respond to terrorist attack through my chairmanship of the Civil Contingencies Committee.
	To further enhance the capacity at the centre of Government to co-ordinate security, intelligence and consequence management matters and deal with risks and major emergencies should they arise, Sir David Omand KCB was appointed as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office in June this year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the EU Co-ordination Group to promote uniformity of application of the general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas (first general system) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The last meeting of the EU Co-ordination Group on the General System Directives took place on 9 July 2002 and the date of the next meeting is to be confirmed, it is anticipated that it will take place before the end of the year. There are two directives under the General System—89/48 EEC (First Diploma Directive), the responsibility of DTI, and 92/51 (Second Diploma Directive), the responsibility of DfES.
	The DTI Co-ordinator for Directive 89/48 EEC represents the UK at meetings of this Group. We liase with the devolved administrations on the application of the Directive. If an issue of particular relevance were to be put down for discussion at a meeting, in relation to Scottish qualifications, the UK Co-ordinator would liase with the Scottish Executive to discuss whether a Scottish official should attend. This has not been necessary to date.

Learning and Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the work of the learning and skills councils and the local councils.

Margaret Hodge: The LSC is in its second year of operation, and is making significant progress in meeting the learning needs of individuals, employers and the wider community. Participation and achievement levels have increased, and work is in hand to drive up quality in teaching and learning, and to broaden the range of provision available for learners. The LSC is expected to publish its annual report and a revised Corporate Plan later this year.

Learning and Skills Councils

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in respect of each programme transferred to the Learning and Skills Council (a) the agency previously responsible, (b) the total resources allocated in 2000–01, (c) the total resources allocated for 2001–02 and (d) the estimated costs of administering the programme in 2000–01.

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 19 September 2002, Official Report, columns 125–26W.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students (a) sat A-level exams this year, (b) have completed a UCAS form and (c) have planned to defer their entry into higher education.

Margaret Hodge: The information is given in the table.
	
		18 year olds sitting A levels and applying for HE
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Students1 sitting A Levels in 2002 200,000 
			 Students2 with 2 or more A levels applying via 
			 UCAS in 2002 141,000 
			 of which, those accepting an HE place and deferring entry 17,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Aged 17 at August 31 2001
	2 Aged 18 at September 30 2002. Latest figures as at October 3 2002. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

A-Levels

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps she will be take to deliver the guarantee of a university place to those disqualified by inappropriate downgrading in A level examinations this year;
	(2)  if she plans to override the autonomy of selection by higher education institutions to fulfil her guarantee of a place for those students whose A levels were inappropriately downgraded.

Margaret Hodge: Universities UK, the representative body of universities, has already advised all its members to honour the offers they made prior to the publication of A-level results in August. If, as a result of the review, a student is now eligible to take up a place, they will be able to do so, either if possible this year, or in 2003.

A-Levels

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much extra finance will be made available to higher education institutions to accommodate downgraded A level students; and whether maximum student numbers will be increased;

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much extra funding will be provided to higher education institutions who have to take extra students in (a) this academic year and (b) future academic years as a result of exam re-marking.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already made it clear that universities and higher education colleges will not suffer financial disadvantage in this financial year because of changes in student numbers due to regrading of A level marks. This commitment continues in to next year.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list when meetings took place between Ministers and officials of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, between 1 July and 31 August; and if she will place the minutes of each meeting in the Library.

David Miliband: Ministers met officers of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on 25 June, 18 July and on 7 August. All relevant notes were made available to Mike Tomlinson in the course of his inquiry into A-level standards.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is to a student of requesting a re-mark in an A-level exam with the (a) Oxford, Cambridge and RSA, (b) Edexcel and (c) Assessment and Qualifications Alliance boards.

David Miliband: The cost of re-marks are usually borne by students' schools and colleges. The awarding bodies will not accept requests for re-marks from candidates, or their carers or from any third party, except in the case of private candidates. The awarding bodies offer a fast track re-mark service to be completed in 30 days, standard remarks should be completed within 40 calendar days. Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR); and the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance charge #20.80 for the re-mark of a specification unit under both the fast track and standard services. Edexcel charge #30 for a fast track re-mark of a specification unit and #25 for a standard re-mark. Schools are not invoiced until the outcome of a re-mark is known. They are only charged if the grade does not change.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students of the (a) Oxford, Cambridge and RSA, (b) Ed Excel and (c) Assessment and Qualifications Alliance boards had A-level papers re-marked (i) this year and (ii) in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the awarding bodies usually collate information on candidate entries affected. We are seeking a breakdown on the basis requested, which will be placed in the House of Commons library in due course.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list contacts between her Department's officials and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority between 1 July and 31 August.

David Miliband: As part of normal business, DfES officials met their QCA counterparts on over 150 occasions during July and August. Meetings covered a wide range of national curriculum qualifications and assessments issues. They also communicated in writing and by telephone.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many qualified A-level examiners were employed by the (a) Oxford, Cambridge and RSA, (b) Edexcel and (c) Assessment and Qualifications Alliance boards (i) this year and (ii) in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: I set out below the number of qualified A-level examiners employed by each awarding body in the years in question.
	
		
			 Year Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Edexcel Assessment and Qualifications Alliance 
			  Legacy A level Curriculum 2000 AS/A2 Legacy A level Curriculum 2000 AS/A2 Legacy A level Curriculum 2000 AS/A2 
		
		
			 1997 1565  2368  n/a  
			 1998 2206  2468  n/a  
			 1999 2181  2578  n/a  
			 2000 1977  2789  5074  
			 2001 1828 3169 — 4255 — 7580 
			 2002  5826  4863  7200 
		
	
	OCR was the only awarding body able to supply a breakdown between the examiners marking the legacy A level and the Curriculum 2000 assessments in 2001. AQA was unable to provide details of the examiners employed in the years 1997 to 1999.

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many A-level papers of the (a) Oxford, Cambridge and RSA, (b) Edexcel and (c) Assessment and Qualifications Alliance boards were re-marked (i) this year and (ii) in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, as regulator, monitors the performance of the awarding bodies and since 1999 has collated data on the basis of the number of enquiries and appeals processed. An enquiry could relate to the results for one unit of a modular A-level or one paper of a linear A-level or the overall results for all modular units or all linear A-level papers for an A-level examination. We are seeking a breakdown on the basis requested which will be placed in the Library in due course.

A-Levels

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of students whose downgrading in A level examinations cost them a place at university this autumn who will be (a) accommodated with a place this year and (b) in subsequent years.

Margaret Hodge: Universities UK have advised their members that they should honour commitments made before August to all students who are entitled and wish to transfer after the regrading of their results. Where possible, students will be able to take up their place this year, but if not, entry will be offered for next year.

Universities

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment is made by her Department of the pastoral care system in British universities; and how the Department monitors it.

Margaret Hodge: A new system of academic review has just been introduced by the Quality Assurance Agency for universities in England. Under this system, students will be encouraged to comment on their learning experience including the quality of pastoral support. QAA reports will include both students' views and their own findings. In addition, as part of our drive to give students more say over their education, there will be institutional and national student satisfaction surveys that will include their views on quality of pastoral support. The national surveys will be undertaken annually, from Autumn 2003 onwards, independently seeking the views of graduates. The Department has also recently undertaken a project to identify a range of effective approaches by Student Services. The project has been completed, and the results will be published in November.

Universities

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which universities are allowed to set their own tuition fees; and what plans she has to extend the freedom for universities to set their own fees.

Margaret Hodge: The Government only controls the fee for undergraduate full-time courses at publicly funded higher education institutions. Privately funded institutions can set their own fee for these courses and all higher education institutions can set their own fees for post-graduate and part-time courses.
	The ability to charge differential fees has been raised as an issue many times over the last decade as one way for universities to raise income, including in a recent report from the Education and Skills Select Committee. The Government will be publishing its response to the Committee's report alongside the HE strategy document later in the autumn.

Universities

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of rises in tuition fees on poorer people; and if a family with a large number of children wishing to attend university is entitled to a reduction in fees.

Margaret Hodge: Students from lower-income families do not make any contributions to their tuition fees and have not therefore been affected by their uprating since 1998/99 in line with inflation. Any parental contribution to fees and maintenance is assessed on the basis of parental income and is shared between those children in the same family who are eligible for student support. By dividing the parental income by the number of children who are currently attending university, the impact of tuition fees on families with a large number of children is fairly assessed.

16–19 Year Olds

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 19-year-old students there were in (a) sixth form colleges and (b) further education colleges in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The requested figures are given in the table below:
	
		Enroled learners in England
		
			   1998–1999 1999–2000 2000–2001 
		
		
			 Ages 16–19 Further education colleges 698,600 686,100 662,100 
			  Sixth form 
			 colleges 
			  121,200 121,100 122,600 
			 Unknown Age Further education colleges 72,500 68,900 45,400 
			  Sixth form colleges 5,700 3,800 2,100 
			 All ages Further education colleges 3,510,600 3,541,500 3,469,000 
			  Sixth form colleges 210,400 221,100 215,500

16–19 Year Olds

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average per capita funding for 16–19 year olds in (a) schools and (b) sixth form colleges was in each of the last ten years; and what the projections are for the next three years following the Chancellor's spending review.

David Miliband: Although sixth forms have not been funded separately prior to 2002–03, the table below gives an estimate of the average unit funding per sixth form pupil, obtained by taking age-weighted funding for such pupils and adding in other school-level and LEA central funding for secondary schools on a per capita basis. Figures for 2002–03 have not yet been calculated.
	
		
			  95–96 Estimate 96–97 Estimate 97–98 Estimate 98–99 Estimate 99–00 Estimate 00–01 Estimate 01–02 Estimate 
		
		
			 Unit funding 
			 (#) 3080 3200 3240 3370 3500 3890 4280 
		
	
	Projections for the next three years will not be available until the detailed 2003–06 Spending Review allocations are agreed in the autumn.
	Information about sixth form colleges is not kept separately from FE colleges. The unit funding information on these is given in PQ 73961.
	The unit funding figures for schools and FE colleges (including sixth form colleges) are not directly comparable, as they have not been calculated on the same basis. For example, the FE unit funding is for all pages and not just 16–19 as they are not available separately for this group.

16–19 Year Olds

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average per capita funding for 16–19 year olds in further education colleges was in each of the last 10 years; and what the projections are for each of the next three years.

Ivan Lewis: The following figures represent total funding per full time equivalent student in FE colleges including sixth form colleges:
	
		
			  93–94 Actual 94–95 Actual 95–96 Actual 96–97 Actual 97–98 Actual 98–99 Actual 99–00 Actual 00–01 Provisional 01–02 Provisional 02–03 Planned 
		
		
			 Total unit 
			 of funding 3,210 3,170 3,040 3,050 3,070 3,120 3,440 3,540 3,810 4,090 
		
	
	These figures are for students of all ages, as the Department does not collect this information separately for the 16–19 age group.
	Projections for the next three years will not be available until the detailed 2003–06 Spending Review allocations are agreed in the autumn.
	These figures are not directly comparable with information on per capita funding in schools as they are not calculated on the same basis. The FE unit funding figure includes total public funding allocated for FE, while the schools' figures are based only on delegated funds and exclude other funding that schools receive centrally from LEAs that impact on post-16 students. The figure for 2002–03 includes reallocated funds made available to FE in 2002–03 including for the Success For All strategy and additional funding recently announced for the Teaching Pay Initiative.

Staff Vetting

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assurances (a) the Criminal Records Bureau and (b) Capita Plc gave that the backlog of applications would be cleared by the start of the school term; and if she will publish them;
	(2)  when her Department asked (a) the Criminal Records Bureau and (b) Capita Plc whether it would be possible to process applications by the start of the school term.

David Miliband: Officials in my Department receive information about the performance of the CRB on a regular basis. When interim arrangements to allow people to be appointed in advance of receipt of a Disclosure were first introduced from 24 May, the letter to Local Education Authorities stated following advice from the CRB that: ''the CRB are confident that their problems will be resolved and that all relevant Disclosures ....will have been issued before the start of the Autumn term.'' During June and July information provided by the CRB continued to indicate that they expected to clear the backlog of applications by the end of August, and to achieve the service standard of issuing Enhanced Disclosures within 3 weeks of receipt of the application by that point. During August it became increasingly uncertain whether the CRB would achieve that, and my officials enquired if the checks needed for staff at the beginning of term could be identified and given priority. In discussion with my officials on 21 August officials of the Bureau stated that they had identified approximately 22,500 outstanding applications for checks on education staff and were confident that the Bureau could clear most of these by 4 September, although it was possible that they might not be able to complete some where more information was required. Bureau officials also said that the actual checking process would be completed by the start of the new term, and that it would be possible to courier results to Local Education Authorities after 29 August. Further discussions took note of the range of different dates for the start of the new term, with 4 September the most common. Lists of term start-dates were requested from Local Education Authorities for the purpose of prioritising the processing of applications. On 27 August the CRB was asked to agree a form of words to be included in my Department's letter to Local Education Authorities, and agreed the following text:
	''The Criminal Records Bureau is already targeting the checks that need to be cleared for education personnel on the basis of key word searches and the registration authorities that have sent them. Emergency action is in hand to ensure that as many as possible of these are cleared by 4 September, whilst ensuring there is no compromise in the integrity of the checks. In order to assist this process, and ensure that priority is given to those posts that will be most critical to the smooth running of schools in your LEA at the beginning of term, it is strongly recommended that each LEA provides the CRB with the following list of information as a matter of urgency, if you have not already done so:
	(1) Name of LEA and number as a CRB registration authority
	(2) Name, telephone number, and email address of key contact in the LEA
	(3) Start of term date for pupils (we have already provided a full list for all LEAs in date order to CRB, but it will help to have this together with the other information)
	(4) A list, with the name (first name, initial, surname), and CRB application number, of those individuals that the LEA regards as the highest priority for clearance for the beginning of term, in the light of the guidance given above. Please keep this as short as possible.
	(5) A full list, with the name (first name, initial, surname) and CRB application number, of all those individuals for whom the LEA is still awaiting outcomes of checks. This can follow the priority list if not readily available.''
	My Department did not have direct contact with Capita PLC on these matters.

Staff Vetting

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proposals her Department has to reimburse schools the costs incurred as a result of delays by the Criminal Records Bureau in vetting staff before the commencement of the Autumn term;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to recover costs incurred by (a) schools and other educational institutions and (b) her Department as a result of failures by the Criminal Records Bureau and Capita plc to process applications prior to the start of the Autumn term;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the cost to schools of additional supply staff needed as a result of the failure to complete Criminal Records Bureau checks by the start of the school term.

David Miliband: We are currently considering representations we have received on behalf of schools about compensation for extra costs incurred as a result of delays by the CRB in issuing Disclosures. No decisions have been made as yet. We have asked a number of Local Education Authorities to provide estimates of the costs incurred by schools
	My Department's officials are currently discussing with the Criminal Records Bureau a claim for compensation in respect of the costs incurred as a result of having to put in place arrangements to make checks of List 99 for schools and other employers and agencies.

Staff Vetting

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department issued to (a) the Criminal Records Bureau and (b) Capita plc regarding the relative priority to be accorded to checks on (i) teachers with continuous records of employment in UK schools and (ii) new applicants to teach in UK schools.

David Miliband: None.

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by her Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within her Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Stephen Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1129W in relation to part (a) of the question. The Information requested for the remaining could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will use her discretionary powers to award advanced status to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

David Miliband: No, we propose to publish guidance in the Autumn and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School will be assessed against the criteria in the same way as any other school.

Infant and Primary Schools

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the impact of phased admission to reception classes on children born in May, June, July and August;
	(2)  what consideration her Department has given to the provision of part-time teaching within a school environment at the beginning of the academic year for children who will not become five years old until the months of May, June, July and August.

David Miliband: Admission arrangements for infant and primary schools, including the timing of admission to school, are matters for the admission authority. For most schools this is the Local Education Authority but for some it is the Governing Body.
	Many schools which admit children before compulsory school age do so initially on a part-time basis, particularly for the younger four year olds. Although the Government has not specifically assessed the impact of phased or part-time intake to reception classes, in September 2001 we published a summary of independent research into the effects of children starting school at different ages. This reported that research on the school starting age and summer born children is inconclusive.
	What is important is the quality of care and learning experiences very young children receive. Young children in reception classes receive provision, as part of the Foundation Stage, which is appropriate for their age and stage of development.

Infant and Primary Schools

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the local education authorities operating (a) a single fixed date of admission to reception classes and (b) a system of phased admission.

David Miliband: Information on the pattern of admissions into schools is not collected centrally.
	Admission authorities—the Local Education Authority for community and controlled schools (unless it has delegated authority to the governing body) and the governing body for foundation and aided schools—set their own admission arrangements, including how many pupils are to be admitted and when they are to be admitted. (Some infant schools admit children at the beginning of each term).

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes she plans to make to the level of London weighting to which teachers are entitled to address recruitment and retention problems.

David Miliband: The School Teachers' Review Body will be making recommendations early next year to the Secretary of State on this and other pay matters. The Government is aware that some schools have difficulties in retaining good, experienced teachers in inner London. The Secretary of State has asked the Review Body to give special attention to that issue. The Government does not, however, support further high, across the board increases next year covering the London Allowance areas, though does not rule out an increase in line with inflation. The value of the allowance has already increased by over 35 per cent. since 1997. The recruitment and retention issues across the London Allowance areas are complex. Schools are best placed to use their existing pay flexibilities to target the teachers they need. In addition, Stephen Twigg has been appointed as Minister for London schools, and the Secretary of State will shortly be appointing a London Schools' Commissioner to work alongside him. Their work will naturally take account of teacher recruitment and retention issues in London.

Sector Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the workforce is covered by sector skills councils.

Ivan Lewis: There are five Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils currently estimated to cover 15 per cent. of the UK workforce. Five further sectors are developing final proposals to become Sector Skills Councils. This is estimated to increase the proportion of the workforce covered by all Sector Skills Councils to 48 per cent., subject to these sectors being successful in receiving a licence and their proposed coverage being confirmed.

Youth Advice

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to consult (a) employers, (b) the CBI, (c) the Institute of Directors, (d) the Small Business Service and (d) sector skills councils on their role in delivering advice and guidance to young people.

Stephen Twigg: In recognition of the key role we envisage that all of the above mentioned groups will have in supporting a successful 14–19 phase of education, all were invited to respond to the proposals in the 14–19 Green Paper—including the advice and guidance aspects—earlier this year. In the light of responses from key stakeholders, we will be announcing how we intend to take forward our proposals shortly.
	We will be consulting into all key organisations in this area, including these groups, as we more further into the implementation phase of the proposals.

Schools (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average teacher to pupil ratio in (a) primary school and (b) secondary school classes in Taunton was in each year since 1996.

David Miliband: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		Pupil:Teacher Ratio 1  in Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools in the Taunton Constituency -- Position in January each year.
		
			  Primary 1  Secondary 2  
		
		
			 2002 (provisional) 22.0 18.7 
			 2001 22.8 18.9 
			 2000 23.9 18.6 
			 1999 24.7 18.3 
			 1998 24.5 17.9 
			 1997 23.7 17.9 
			 1996 . . 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 The pupil:teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of full-time equivalent pupils on roll in schools by the total number of full-time equivalent qualified teachers employed in schools.
	2 Includes middle schools as deemed
	. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency prior to 1997.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Schools (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) pupils, (b) teachers and (c) support staff there are in each school in the Taunton constituency at the end of the 2001–02 academic year; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The available information is shown in the table below. This relates to numbers of pupils published in the Primary and Secondary School Performance Tables for 2001. Otherwise, school level information is not routinely published.
	
		Number of Pupils on Roll in Schools 1  in Taunton Constituency
		
			 Name of School Number on Roll 
		
		
			 Maintained Primary Schools  
			 Wellesley Park Primary School 373 
			 Bishops Hull Primary School 245 
			 Churchstanton Primary School 98 
			 Lydeard St Lawrence Community Primary 
			 School 87 
			 Milverton Community Primary School 206 
			 Pitminster School 41 
			 Sampford Arundel Community Primary 
			 School 82 
			 Stawley Primary School 48 
			 Halcon Community Primary School 135 
			 North Town Community Primary School 387 
			 Priorswood Primary School 219 
			 Wellsprings Primary School 313 
			 Beech Grove Primary School 318 
			 West Buckland Community Primary School 69 
			 Wiveliscombe Primary School 256 
			 Parkfield Primary School 413 
			 Lyngford Park Primary School 258 
			 Oake and Bradford Community Primary 
			 School 64 
			 Blackbrook Primary School 212 
			 Holway Park Community Primary School 346 
			 Bishops Lydeard Church of England 
			 Voluntary Controlled Primary School 256 
			 Cheddon Fitzpaine Church of England 
			 Primary School 152 
			 Creech St Michael Church of England 
			 Primary School 220 
			 Hatch Beauchamp Church of England 
			 Primary School 42 
			 Kingston St Mary Church of England 
			 Primary School 111 
			 Langford Budville Church of England 
			 Primary School 72 
			 North Curry CofE VC Primary School 131 
			 Norton Fitzwarren Church of England 
			 Voluntary Controlled Community School 151 
			 Nynehead Church of England Primary School 25 
			 Rockwell Green Church of England Primary 
			 School 184 
			 Staplegrove CofE Primary School 192 
			 Stoke St Gregory Church of England Primary 
			 School 77 
			 St Andrew's Church of England Primary 
			 School 245 
			 West Monkton Church of England Primary 
			 School 217 
			 Burrowbridge Church of England Primary 
			 School 25 
			 Ruishton Church of England Primary School 182 
			 Archbishop Cranmer Church of England 
			 Community Primary School 355 
			 Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School 304 
			 Thurlbear Church of England Primary School 188 
			 Trull Church of England VA Primary School 221 
			 St George's Catholic School 201 
			 Dulverton Middle and Community School 114 
			 St John's Church of England Primary School 191 
			  
			 Maintained Secondary Schools  
			 Bishop Fox's Community School 787 
			 Court Fields Community School 736 
			 Heathfield Community School 1071 
			 Kingsmead Community School 679 
			 Ladymead Community School 767 
			 The Castle School 1132 
			 The St Augustine of Canterbury School 552 
			  
			 Special Schools  
			 Selworthy Special School 62 
		
	
	Note:
	1 Only includes schools which have pupils eligible for Key Stage 2 tests or pupils aged 15 and for whom results are published in the Primary and Secondary Performance Tables. The Primary Performance Tables only include mainained primary schools with Key Stage 2 eligible pupils. Independent schools and infant schools are therefore excluded.
	Source:
	2001 Primary and Secondary Performance Tables

Electronic Credits

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much is to be allocated in each of the next three comprehensive spending reviews for electronic credits.

Estelle Morris: I will announce decisions on the allocation of funding available from the Spending Review 2002 later in the year.

Salisbury College

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about the financial position of Salisbury College.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Fingerprinting

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason children's fingerprints are being taken in school libraries; if they will be stored securely; when they will be destroyed; and if she will make a statement on the system being used.

Ivan Lewis: About 1,000 schools are using software provided by a company called Micro Librarian Systems (MLS), which gives purchasers an option to use thumb printing to identify individuals for the purposes of schools' library management systems. Key features of the prints are converted into a numerical code for recording on the system. MLS has given officials in the Department a demonstration of their software and we understand that, while the number could, with difficulty, be re-created, the original print itself is not stored and cannot be reconstructed.
	The Office of the Information Commissioner have confirmed that they are of the view that the current use of the software developed by MLS is compatible with the principles of data protection, given the existence of safeguards against wider use of the thumb prints than is necessary for the purpose for which they are being collected in schools. The data should be deleted once a pupil leaves a school in accordance with the fifth principle of data protection that ''personal data processed for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes''.
	Ultimately, it is for schools to decide whether they wish to use this software or not and, if so, whether they wish to use the thumb print technology as part of it. If they do decide to use it, the OIC has stressed that schools should seek the consent of parents. We would add that schools should seek the consent of pupils where appropriate. MLS also strongly recommends in its literature to schools that they should contact parents to advise them of the technology and their intention to use it before beginning the registration process. In schools that do use the software with the thumb print option, there are alternative means of access for those pupils who choose, or whose parents choose, not to use the thumb print option, so they are not disadvantaged.

Private Contracts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if, in respect of those provisions in the Education Bill which permit individual bodies of school governors to make contracts for the supply of educational services to schools with firms outside the public services, she plans to issue guidelines to local authorities and governors as to procedures to be adopted; and if such bodies will be subject to inspection by other statutory bodies.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills will make guidance available on sections 11 and 12 of the Education Act 2002 which allow school governing bodies to form companies to provide services and to procure goods and services. Guidance on purchasing for schools is already available separately from the Department. School companies will operate under the provisions of the Companies Acts and will submit audited accounts to Companies House. The regulations on school companies will provide for a supervising local education authority to receive accounts from the company and to request further information where necessary. School companies will not be subject to inspection by other statutory bodies.

Performance payments

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the differentials between performance payments for teachers in schools and further education colleges.

David Miliband: Teachers in maintained schools are subject to national school teachers' pay and conditions based on recommendations made by the independent School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). Teachers at the top of the main pay scale can apply to ''cross the performance threshold'' by providing evidence of competency in five nationally agreed teaching standards. The aim of the performance threshold is to encourage and reward good teaching and to help make teaching a more effective and attractive profession. Passing the threshold means a permanent move to an ''upper'' pay scale. In practice, this mean a salary increase of about #2,000. The criteria for moving through the upper pay scale is developed by individual schools.
	FE colleges, including sixth form colleges, are run by independent corporations and unlike schools, there is no national pay agreement in the sector. There is a nationally recommended pay scale agreed by employer representative bodies and the unions but pay arrangements in the sector are diverse. This reflects colleges' ability to agree annual pay rises and conditions of employment with their staff in the context of local priorities and the overall resources available to them.
	In consultation with the Association of Colleges, the Sixth Form Colleges' Employers' Forum and the FE unions we have introduced the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) to help colleges modernise pay arrangements and to recruit, reward and retain teachers excellent teachers. For sixth form colleges, the arrangements for TPI (referred to as the Professional Standards Payment) are very similar to those in schools, with a prescribed payment of #2,000 to the eligible teachers who meet the required standards. In general FE colleges, there are national guidelines within which payments must be determined, rewarding the achievement of qualifications, continuous professional development, advanced practitioner status and measures to modernise pay arrangements. General FE colleges have the flexibility to determine the precise levels of TPI payment made to their staff. It is for individual colleges to decide whether to consolidate TPI awards into pensionable pay.
	We have recently announced the extension of the TPI to non-teaching staff in colleges.

TECS

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list (a) the total sums made available by her Department or its predecessors to training and enterprise councils for their central administration costs and (b) the amounts spent by TECs on central administration, for each year from 1995-96 to 2000-01.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, columns 1360W–64W.

TECS

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance was given by her Department to Training and Enterprise on the virement of funds between the budgets allocated for work-based training for young people and adults, and those for central TEC administration in each year from 1995-96.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, col. 1359W.

TECS

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list (a) the total sums made available to training and enterprise councils and (b) the sums spent by TECs on work-based training for (i) young people and (ii) adults, and other Government-funded programmes, in each year from 1995-96.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, col. 1356W–57W.

Physical Education

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding is being provided to the teacher training agency to ensure additional supplementary courses are offered at primary level in PE equivalent to those offered for secondary PGCE courses;
	(2)  what proportion of primary school teachers are trained to teach an effective PE and sports curriculum; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: From September this year, all those training to be primary teachers receive training to teach PE as an integral part of their programme. This should ensure that more new primary teachers are suitably prepared to deliver the primary PE curriculum. Initial teacher training providers can also choose to offer trainees additional specialist training in PE or other subjects if they wish. However, the change in the requirements for primary teachers means that there should be no need for any supplementary courses of the kind offered for secondary teachers. These courses are aimed at providing graduates with the full range of knowledge and skills needed for the more specialised secondary PE curriculum.
	Professional development also has an important role to play, and DfES and DCMS are working together to deliver a joint PSA target to enhance sporting opportunities for 5–16 year olds, by increasing the percentage of children who spend at least 2 hours a week on high quality PE and schools sport, within and beyond the curriculum, to 75 per cent. by 2006. Subject to final detailed decisions on the 2002 spending review settlement, we aim to support additional training for teachers and others in PE and school sport.

Year 12 Pupils

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many year 12 pupils are expected to be in full-time education in (a) September 2002 and (b) January 2003; and how many were in full-time education in (i) September 2001 and (ii) January 2002.

David Miliband: Figures on participation in education are compiled using information available around the end of the calendar year, and that information relates to pupils by their age at the start of the academic year.
	Provisional figures collected around the end of 2001 showed that there were 218,000 pupils aged 16 in schools and 232,000 in further education in England.
	Projections indicate that there will be approximately 221,000 16 year olds in schools and 239,000 in further education around the end of 2002.

Performance Bonuses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools have received a special achievement bonus in the past five years, broken down by region.

David Miliband: School Achievement Awards were made for the first time in 2001. Details of the 2001 awards and those made in 2002 have been published on the Department's Teachernet website where the award winning schools are listed under each Government Office Region. (http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/Manage- ment/pay and performance/schoolachievementawards/)

Performance Bonuses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what types of special achievement bonuses for schools are available; and what the criteria are for earning them;
	(2)  what plans she has to introduce further bonuses to encourage improving school performance.

David Miliband: The Department's School Achievement Awards Scheme allocates #60million to our 7,000 best and most improving schools. Awards must be used to fund staff bonuses for which all staff, not just teachers, are eligible. They have been made for the second time this year and were awarded to schools:
	where pupil performance in 2001 was substantially better than in 1998;
	where pupil performance in 2001 was better than most schools in similar circumstances; and
	that have come out of special measures in the 2000/01 school year.
	Third round award-winners will be announced in Spring 2003. The scheme is separate from the financial support the Department gives to schools for threshold pay and performance related pay for teachers.

Assessment Test Scores

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average assessment test scores for secondary school students have been over the last five years, broken down by region.

David Miliband: The following tables show the percentage of pupils who achieved level 5 or above in the Key Stage 3 tests in each Government Office Region in England between 1998 and 2002.
	
		
			   1998   1999  
			  English Maths Science English Maths Science 
		
		
			 North East 60 55 52 59 57 51 
			 North West 65 58 54 63 60 53 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 61 57 53 61 59 52 
			 East Midland 63 60 56 62 63 56 
			 West Midland 62 56 53 63 59 51 
			 East of England 66 64 60 65 67 60 
			 London 62 52 49 60 56 48 
			 South East 69 64 62 70 67 60 
			 South West 67 63 60 67 66 59 
			 England 65 59 56 64 62 55 
			   2000   2001  
			  English Maths Science English Maths Science 
			 North East 61 61 56 63 63 63 
			 North West 63 64 58 65 65 64 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 61 61 56 62 63 63 
			 East Midland 63 66 61 63 67 67 
			 West Midland 63 62 57 63 64 64 
			 East of England 66 69 64 67 70 70 
			 London 61 59 51 62 61 58 
			 South East 68 69 64 69 70 71 
			 South West 66 68 64 67 70 70 
			 England 64 65 59 65 66 66 
		
	
	
		
			   2002 
			  English Maths Science
		
		
			 North East 65 64 63
			 North West 67 66 65
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 64 64 64
			 East Midland 65 68 68
			 West Midland 65 65 65
			 East of England 67 70 70
			 London 63 63 61
			 South East 69 70 70
			 South West 68 70 70
			 England 66 67 66
		
	
	Note:
	2002 Government Office Region figures are ''early statistics''

Internet Access

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding the Government provides towards promoting internet access in schools in the last year in classrooms; and what programmes the Government funds that promote the use of the internet.

Ivan Lewis: The Government made available #245 million through the Standards Fund in the last financial year (2001–02) for information and communications technology (ICT) in schools. This includes funding for equipment and content as well as for the Internet. Statistics published on 29 August tell us that over 99 per cent. of all schools in England were connected to Internet at April 2002 and that computer to pupil ratios are now one computer for every six secondary school pupils and one computer for every 9.7 primary school pupils.
	The main programme to promote the use of the Internet in schools over the last four years has been the National Grid for Learning strategy which is now part of the overall ICT in Schools Programme.

Internet Access

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools broken down by region, have internet access.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available.
	It is estimated from a recent sample survey of schools that over 99 per cent. of both primary and secondary schools in England were connected to the internet at 31 March 2002. The sample size was not large enough to support regional estimates.
	Information for England 2002 was published in Statistical First Release 19/02 ''Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2002: Provisional'', which is available on my Department's web-site www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics and from the Library.

Secondary Schools

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to improve the secondary education of students and the recruitment of teachers.

Estelle Morris: Investment for Reform, published in July, sets out our intentions for reforming the secondary education system. A record #12.8 billion increase in education investment over the next 3 years, together with measures in the Education Act 2002 will provide a firm basis for further reform and improvement, and higher standards.
	A range of measures has been introduced to boost teacher recruitment. From September 2000, #6,000 training bursaries have been paid to eligible students on postgraduate courses that lead to qualified teacher status. For those who train in and then go on to teach in shortage subject areas a #4,000 ''golden hello'' payment is made after induction has been completed. These measures helped to ensure that there were 29,045 new entrants to initial teacher training courses in 2001–02, more than any year since 1994 and 1,330 more than 2000–2001.

Secondary Schools

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what tests are used to assess whether secondary schools are improving; and if she will make a statement on the methodology of these tests.

David Miliband: Secondary school performance and improvement are assessed on a number of bases, including the performance of their pupils in public examinations (GCSEs/GNVQs). Increasingly, we are also taking account of pupil performance in the end of Key Stage 3 tests, both in its own right and as an indicator of the ''value added'' by schools during Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The 2002 performance tables will include two value added measures for secondary schools nationally, in addition to the raw examination results published normally.
	The principal means of assessing achievements at the end of compulsory education is the GCSE. GCSEs are assessed through a combination of coursework and terminal examination. GCSE specifications have to meet the requirements of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's (QCA) subject criteria. A Code of Practice sets out the principles and practice for the assessment and quality assurance of the GCSE qualifications. It helps to ensure grading standards are constant in each subject across different awarding bodies and different specifications year on year.
	The National Curriculum Key Stage 3 tests are developed by QCA on behalf of the Secretary of State. These tests provide a measure of pupils' progress in English mathematics and science at the end of Key Stage 3. They help teachers and parents to see what children have achieved compared with other children of the same age and with national standards, based on eight levels of attainment in the National Curriculum.

Exclusions

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were excluded from state primary and secondary schools at each of the key stages in each of the last five years; and what percentage of each of these totals of exclusions children were recognised as being on the autistic spectrum.

Stephen Twigg: The available information is shown in the table. Information collected centrally on permanent exclusions does not record the Key Stage of the pupil or the type of special educational need. Guidance from the Department makes clear that, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, schools should avoid permanently excluding pupils with statements of special educational needs. The guidance also requires head teachers to say, when reporting exclusions to Discipline Committees and Local Education Authorities whether the pupil has special educational needs, either with or without a statement.
	
		Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools: Number of Permanent Exclusions by age of Pupils -- England 1996/97–2000/01 1
		
			 Primary Schools 2 Age of pupils Total 
			  3 and under 4 to 6 7 to 10 11 to 13 14 to 15 16 and over  
		
		
			 1996/1997
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 239 1,316 18 0 0 1,573 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 15.2 83.7 1.1 0.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.01 0.06 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.04 
			 1997/1998
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 210 1,317 12 0 0 1,539 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 13.6 85.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.01 0.06 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.03 
			 1998/1999
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 188 1,164 14 0 0 1,366 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 13.8 85.2 1.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.03 
			 1999/2000 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 152 1,039 35 0 0 1,226 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 12.4 84.7 2.9 0.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.01 0.04 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.03 
			 2000/2001 (1)
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 166 1,240 30 0 0 1,436 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 11.6 86.4 2.1 0.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.18 0.00 0.00 0.03 
		
	
	
		
			 Secondary Schools 2 Age of pupils Total 
			   3 and under 4 to 6 7 to 10 11 to 13 14 to 15 16 and over 
		
		
			 1996/1997
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 0 56 4,727 5,500 180 10,463 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions4 0.0 0.0 0.5 45.2 52.6 1.7 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.29 0.52 0.06 0.34 
			 1997/1998
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 0 49 4,404 5,537 197 10,187 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 0.0 0.5 43.2 54.4 1.9 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.27 0.53 0.06 0.33 
			 1998/1999
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 0 59 4,075 4,393 109 8,636 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions 3 0.0 0.0 0.7 47.2 50.9 1.3 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.24 0.42 0.04 0.28 
			 1999/2000
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 0 33 3,266 3,322 92 6,713 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 0.0 0.5 48.7 49.5 1.4 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population (4) 0 0 0.05 0.19 0.31 0.03 0.21 
			 2000/2001 (1)
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 0 50 4,063 3,165 27 7,305 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions3 0.0 0.0 0.7 55.6 43.3 0.4 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population4 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.23 0.29 0.01 0.23 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Permanent exclusions for 2000–01 are estimated as a number of LEAs have yet to confirm the data for their schools
	2 Includes middle schools as deemed.
	3 The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number
	4 The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Departmental Guidance (14 to 16-year olds)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 1354W, when he will issue the published version of guidance on increased flexibility for 14 to 16-year-olds.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills and Learning and Skills Council's draft Guidance on Selected Legal Issues, as detailed in my answer of 24 July, is currently being revised in the light of comments made during an extensive consultation. The expectation is that a published version will be available in November 2002.

PFI Projects

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the PFI projects in maintained schools which have been approved, giving the value of each.

David Miliband: 81 local education authority schools projects have been awarded PFI credits for new buildings or major refurbishments. Of these, 48 projects, covering 550 schools, have reached financial close, with a total capital value of #1.3 billion. Another 33 projects are in procurement, having been approved by the Treasury-chaired Project Review Group (PRG). These projects have a capital value of #1.1 billion, and cover more than 250 schools. Details of these projects are given on the Department's website at www.teachernet.gov.uk/ schoolsprivatefinanceinitiative. A further 20 projects, covering more than 150 schools, have been awarded PFI credits on a provisional basis, and are currently preparing Outline Business Cases for consideration by the PRG.

Threshold Payments

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of teachers who have successfully applied for threshold but who are awaiting payment as a result of delays in Government funding.

David Miliband: The Department makes monthly threshold payments to local education authorities so that payments can be made to schools as soon as they return a funding claim form. Authorities are also able to make payments to schools or teachers before receiving payment from the Department. This means that there should not be delays in schools receiving the Threshold Grant.

Grammar School Ballots

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authorities have been the subject of a request for electoral reform services for the petition threshold figure under the education (grammar school ballots) regulations 1998 in 2001–02; and what threshold figure was calculated for each local authority.

David Miliband: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Bexley 8,829 
			 Bournemouth 3,849 
			 Buckinghamshire 17,159 
			 Kent * 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3,433 
			 Lancashire request withdrawn 
			 Lincolnshire * 
			 Medway Towns 10,533 
			 Poole 3,766 
			 Reading 3,679 
			 Slough 4,563 
			 Southend 5,946 
			 Sutton 7,096 
			 Torbay 4,310 
			 Trafford 8,624 
			 Wirral (Calday) 2,146 
			 Wirral (County) 2,916 
			 Wirral (St Anselm) 2,122 
		
	
	Note:
	* ERS were unable to complete setting thresholds for Kent and Lincolnshire.

School Funding

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average per capita funding for schools was in each of the last 10 years; and what the projection is for the next three years.

David Miliband: The per capita funding for schools in the last 10 years is set out in the table below. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills will determine the final schools projected per capita funding later in the year.
	
		
			 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 #2,960 #2,940 #2,920 #2,830 #2,830 #2,830 #2,870 #2,990 #3,190 #3,390 #3,520

English Baccalaureate

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what preparatory work her Department has done for the introduction of an English baccalaureate; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: In our Green Paper, 14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards, we sought views on a proposal for a new overarching award called the Matriculation Diploma. We have considered carefully the views expressed during the consultation on the Green Paper and will be making an announcement soon on how we intend to take forward our plans for the 14–19 phase.

Curriculum 2000

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of ending the Curriculum 2000 exam systems; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have made no estimate of this cost. The government believes that the greater breadth introduced in the post 16 curriculum by Curriculum 2000 is valuable, a view shared wholeheartedly according to the Tomlinson report.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she intends to reply to the letter regarding Pat McGuinness from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, addressed on 22 April to the Home Secretary and copied by the Home Secretary's Office to her.

Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 22 April on 7 August 2002.

Youth Parliament

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Youth Parliament receives each year; and which minister takes lead responsibility for it.

John Denham: The UK Youth Parliament is a registered charity, independent of Government. It receives financial support from a range of sources. The value each year of Government support, including grants, commercial contracts and support in kind, is as follows:
	1999–2000: #12,000
	2000–2001: #264,000
	2001–2002: #84,000
	2002–2003: #110,000
	As the Minister for Young People, I take the lead in Government, in its relationship with the Youth Parliament.

Religious Education

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what figures she collates on the vacancies for trained religious education specialists in secondary schools.

David Miliband: National Statistics published by my Department on 5 August show that, in January 2002, there were 90 vacancies for full-time teachers of religious education in maintained secondary schools in England.

Religious Education

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many places for religious education specialists at teacher training institutions are unfilled;
	(2)  how many places on teacher training courses are set aside for training religious education specialists.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, made available 650 places on courses of initial training of teachers of Religious Education in 2001/02. Of those, 588 were filled. 700 training places will be available for Religious Education in 2002/03.

Primary Schools

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will amend the basic need criteria to facilitate the provision of primary schools within new neighbourhoods; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Basic Need guidance for 2003–04 was issued on 30 July 2002, and the deadline for LEAs to submit their bids was 30 September 2002. Basic Need is defined as the requirement for additional school places in areas of population growth, where there is no more capacity in schools in the surrounding area.
	We are currently undertaking a consultation on the future allocation of capital funding for new pupil places, with the aim of simplifying the process. Any new methodology, which should affect funding from 2004–05 onwards, should better support the expansion of successful and popular schools.

Comprehensive Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evidence and related to which dates the old comprehensive schools involved (a) headteachers following orders, (b) teachers working alone, (c) school performance failure unchallenged and (d) accountability work as stated in her document Education & Skills: Investment for Reform, 5 July; and from what dates that model is derived.

David Miliband: Under the original comprehensive system established in the 1960s, heads had neither the power nor often the resources to make their schools special. Schools were isolated, and teaching skills, the school curriculum and school improvement were not publicly scrutinised. There was no framework to measure the effectiveness of schools nor to ensure intervention to drive improvement where standards were unacceptable.
	Significant policy initiatives introduced by this Government include: Excellence in Cities, which began in 1999 and is now operating in over a third of LEAs and having a positive affect on standards in those areas through partnerships and networks; intervention in inverse proportion to success leading to real action to tackle failing schools resulting in the number of failing secondary schools falling from 88 at the end of 1998 to 52 this summer; the expansion of the specialist schools programme as an engine for improvement—there are now almost 1,000 specialist schools covering 8 different specialisms compared to 181 schools in 2 specialisms in 1997; and a drive to improve leadership including the establishment of the National College for School Leadership, announced in 2000.

TECs

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of total expenditure on Government-funded programmes was represented by central administration costs in respect of each training and enterprise council for 2000–01; and to what extent the sums spent on central administration represented value for money.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, col. 1360W–364W.

TECs

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much in each year from 1995–96 her Department consented to be transferred by training and enterprise councils between budget heads, showing for each budget head the total amount transferred out and the heads to which it was transferred.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, col. 1359W.

TECs

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were (a) employed at the end of 1999–2000, (b) transferred to the Learning and Skills Council, (c) transferred to the Small Business Service, (d) transferred to Business Links, (e) transferred to other organisations and (f) made redundant by each TEC prior to 31 March 2001.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July 2002, Official Report, col. 1357W–359W.

Teachers

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham of 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 820W, if she will list for each school the number of teachers; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is the Department's policy not to publish figures about individual schools unless the schools concerned have had the opportunity to check or confirm that information. The pupil figures provided in the reply given on 9 July, Official Report, column 820W were published as part of the Primary and Secondary School Performance Tables; these figures had been checked by the schools. Teacher numbers are, however, not routinely checked with schools.

Capita

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps were taken by her Department following the suspension of the individual learning account scheme to ensure that services provided to it by Capita plc and its subsidiaries would be provided to an acceptable standard.

Ivan Lewis: Officials continue to take seriously their responsibilities as managers of the Department's contracts, not only with Capita but with all our delivery partners. As soon as we became aware of the issues emerging from Individual Learning Accounts we took immediate steps to ensure that they did not apply to any of the Department's other contracts with any of our delivery partners. We have also taken further steps to ensure that ongoing assessment of the risks associated with delivery of contracted outputs is a standard part of what the Department's contract managers do. A comprehensive and wide ranging Supplier Management Project is seeking to embed that commercial competence across the Department as a whole and is one of our key improvement priorities.

Departmental Research

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the current research commissioned by her Department in the fields of further and higher education and vocational training.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's research programme currently supports 19 projects in the fields of further and higher education and vocational training. Details of the projects are noted below:
	Research on the Relationship between Training and Business Performance
	FE Students' Financial Circumstances
	Learning and Training at Work 2001 and 2002
	National Adult Learning Survey 2002
	Evaluation of the CMF-Funded UK Online Centres
	Early impact of the new arrangements for Adult and Community Learning under the Learning and Skills Council
	National Survey of Adult Basic Skill Needs
	Longitudinal Panel Survey of Learners
	Evaluation of Adult Basic Skills Pathfinder Extension Activities
	JSA Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills Pilots
	Key Issues in Higher Education
	Evaluation of Connexions Card
	Evaluation of Playing for Success
	Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Support Fund
	Survey of Connexions Costs in Urban and Rural Settings
	Connexions Customer Satisfaction Survey
	Connexions Stakeholder Survey
	Ethnic minorities and HE
	Key Issues in HE.
	In addition the Department also funds 4 research centres whose activities will cover the areas noted above. These are:
	Wider Benefits of Learning
	Economics of Education
	Information Communication Technology
	National Research And Development Centre For Adult Literacy And Numeracy.

University of Industry

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the role of the University of Industry in relation to other (a) providers and (b) strategic policy bodies in connection with vocational education.

Ivan Lewis: Ufi was set up to stimulate demand for lifelong learning amongst businesses and individuals and to promote the availability of high quality learning materials and innovative learning methods, particularly through the use of Information and Communication Technologies. It uses the brand name learndirect.
	Ufi contracts for the delivery of learndirect courses in over 1700 centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Partners include further education colleges, private and voluntary sector providers, employers, trade unions and others. In England the Learning and Skills Council funds learning delivered in these centres. Ufi works closely with this Department and with the LSC, and a wide range of other partners, in pursuit of the effective delivery of its objectives. We have recently begun a review of the relationship between Ufi/learndirect and the DfES in order to agree the most effective long term basis for its future development

Connexions Service

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for quality accreditation processes to ensure that all young people receive high quality one-to-one information, advice and guidance in schools, colleges and the workplace.

Stephen Twigg: The Connexions Service has responsibility for working with schools, colleges and work-based training providers to ensure young people aged 13–19 have access to information, advice and guidance. Young people can access a wide range of support including one to one support from Personal Advisers.
	The Connexions Service is delivered by Connexions Partnerships operating in 47 areas in England. Each Partnership is responsible for meeting key requirements and quality criteria developed by the Connexions Service National Unit and OFSTED. On an annual basis each Partnership undertakes a self assessment of its work and this forms the basis of performance reviews with the Connexions Service National Unit. Once every four years OFSTED will also undertake a full inspection in each Connexions Partnership area. Work is also underway to develop a national non-statutory specification for careers education and guidance. The specification will help schools, colleges and work-based training providers improve the quality of support they provide to young people.

Connexions Service

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals she has to enable the Connexions Service to meet individual needs for guidance for young people arising from the Government's 14 to 19 policies.

Stephen Twigg: The Connexions Service will continue to provide access to impartial advice and guidance on learning and career options for all young people aged 13–19, through: individual and group sessions with a Connexions Personal Adviser; a wide range of careers information products; and through Information and Communication Technology.
	In recognition of the broader range of learning pathways that will become available as a result of the proposed 14–19 reforms, the Connexions Service will work with schools to review progress with young people and their parents or carers at the end of Key Stage 3. This will inform young people's specific learning choices for Key Stage 4 and broad learning goals for the post-16 phase, as well as identifying opportunities for young people to undertake wider development opportunities. The focus of activity for the Connexions Service will be to provide individually tailored support to young people undertaking learning programmes that involve studying outside the institution in which they are based and those with multiple barriers to learning. We are also developing a new 11–19 national specification for careers education, to help schools, colleges and work-based training providers to develop more effective curriculum-based careers education programmes.

GCSE Grades

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average percentage of pupils was obtaining five GCSE A*-C grades or above in (a) specialist schools designated before 1 September 1997, (b) specialist schools designated after September 1997 and (c) all schools in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The information is shown in the following table.
	Average 1 percentage of pupils obtaining 5 GCSE/GNVQ A*-C grade or above in academic year:
	
		
			  1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 
		
		
			 Pupils in:  
			 Specialist pre 1 September 1997 52 54 57 59 60 
			 Specialist post 1 September 1997 45 47 48 49 51 
			 Maintained mainsteam 43 45 46 48 49 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Pupil weighted average.

TEC Surpluses

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) her estimate of the aggregate of Training and Enterprise Council surpluses attributable to public funds is, (b) the amount paid over to public funds to date in respect of those surpluses is and (c) action her Department is taking to recover outstanding amounts in respect of each TEC.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes) on 24 July, Official Report, column 1359W–60W.

Sector Skills Council

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to create a sector skills council for post-compulsory education.

Ivan Lewis: Employers are discussing with my Department the potential for a UK-wide Sector Skills Council for post-compulsory education. These discussions are at an early stage. A firm proposal from employers would also need the support of the devolved administrations. It is the responsibility of the Sector Skills Development Agency to assess proposals against the Sector Skills Council standard and to recommend the award of licences.

Sector Skills Council

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the sector skills councils (a) established prior to April, (b) established subsequently and (c) currently in formation.

Ivan Lewis: We announced the award of trailblazer Sector Skills Council status to five sectors in December 2001. These sectors represent the audio visual; environment and land-based; oil and gas extraction, chemicals manufacturing and petroleum; apparel, footwear and textiles and retail industries. No further Sector Skills Councils have been licensed. There are five sectors in the final phase of developing Sector Skills Council proposals for consideration by the Sector Skills Development Agency. These sectors represent the e-skills; hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism; technology, engineering and science; construction and process manufacturing industries.

National Training Organisations

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many national training organisations are in place.

Ivan Lewis: Government recognition of National Training Organisations was withdrawn in March 2002. 61 organisations formerly with this status continue to operate in their own right.

Schools Access Initiative Fund

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department has taken to inform schools of the Schools Access Initiative Fund.

Stephen Twigg: Information on the Schools Access Initiative is available on the Department's Special Educational Needs website at www.dfes.gov.uk/sen including information about allocations to individual Local Education Authorities and advice on how to find out more. Guidance on capital issues, including Schools Access Initiative, is also available on the education resource website teachernet at www.teachernet.gov.uk
	We sent guidance to all schools—Accessible Schools: Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils—in July this year. This included information on the Schools Access Initiative.

Schools Access Initiative Fund

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to monitor the applications and spending decisions made under the Schools Access Initiative Fund, with particular reference to differing types of disability.

Stephen Twigg: Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in receipt of resources provided under the Schools Access Initiative, are required to submit an implementation report to the Department at the end of the financial year confirming the types of access work and schools which have been targeted, together with costs and potential benefits of the work. This information is not categorised according to type of disability.
	LEAs are under a statutory duty to plan to increase the accessibility of their schools to disabled pupils, and the effective provision of access for disabled pupils in schools is an integral factor in the appraisal of Asset Management Plans. OfSTED will also monitor schools' accessibility plans as part of their inspections.

Digital Photographs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if digital photographs of children are being used to identify them in schools.

David Miliband: Schools have for many years taken photographs of pupils for sale to parents, copies of which have been kept in the school. In recent years, copies of these photographs have been made available on a CD to many schools, so that a photo can be added to a pupil's electronic record.
	A photograph of a pupil falls within the definition of data in section 1 of the Data Protection Act and schools should ensure that the storage and use of the photograph is compatible with the Act.

Juvenile Obesity

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research is being commissioned by the Department on levels of obesity amongst school children; and what assessment has been made as to how these vary in different types of school.

Stephen Twigg: This Department has not commissioned any research into obesity amongst school children, or carried out any assessment as to how obesity varies in different types of school.

Better Regulation Task Force

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the report by the Better Regulation Task Force regarding education.

Stephen Twigg: The Better Regulation Task Force published their report ''Higher Education: Easing the Burden'' on 22 July. Due to the Summer Recess, the Task Force has agreed that the normal 60-day response time can be extended to end of October. I will inform the hon. Member of the Government's response at that time.

Apprenticeships

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprentices (a) started and (b) completed their apprenticeships in the years commencing 1 May (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2002.

Ivan Lewis: The number of Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (AMA) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeships (FMA) started by young people (aged 15 to 24) are as follows:
	
		
			  FMA AMA 
		
		
			 (i) 29 April 1996–4 May 1997 0 56,900 
			 (ii) 5 May 1997–4 May 1998 1,400 68,300 
			 (iii) 29 April 2002–23 June 2002 4,400 12,000 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures exclude transfers between AMA, FMA and other work-based learning.
	(b) Information on completion of AMA and FMA frameworks is not available.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to raise the educational standard of children in care.

Stephen Twigg: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Student Finance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish her review of student finance.

Margaret Hodge: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

HEALTH

Health Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by his Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

David Lammy: I refer the right hon. Member to the central answer provided by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office on 13 June 2002, Official Report, col. 1402W. Copies of the documents are available in the Library.

Health Staff

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for (a) nurses and (b) doctors in the Huntingdon constituency.

David Lammy: Information on the numbers of vacancies for nurses and doctors in the Huntingdon constituency has been placed in the Library.

Health Staff

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned cost is of administrative and support staff for the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire NHS Health Authority in 2002-03.

Jacqui Smith: The planned cost of administrative and support staff for the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority is #4 million.

Health Staff

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the Nursing and Midwifery Council's proposals to introduce compulsory insurance.

John Hutton: The Department has received 32 letters from independent midwives and those who have used their services on this subject.

Health Staff

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of administrative and support staff in NHS organisations within the North Yorkshire Health Authority area in 1996–97; and what the planned cost is of administrative and support staff for (a) Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, (b) Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT, (c) Selby and York Primary Care Trust, (d) Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT, (e) Harrogate Health Care Trust, (f) South Tees Hospital NHS Trust and (g) York Health Services NHS Trust in 2002–03.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table below.
	
		
			 NHS Organisation 1996/97 (#m) 
		
		
			 North Yorkshire Health Authority 5.9 
			 Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust 3.164 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 3.481 
			 York Health Services NHS Trust 5.273 
			 NHS Organisation 2002/03 
			 (#m) 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust 1.890 
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust 1.980 
			 Selby and York Primary Care Trust 4.320 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust 2.225 
			 Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust 3.558 
			 South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust 6.6 
			 York Health Services NHS Trust 5.0

MS Drug Therapies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what system of audit was set up alongside the risk sharing scheme for MS drug therapies announced in February;
	(2)  what information (a) PCTs and (b) strategic health authorities are required to provide to his Department in respect of the risk sharing scheme for MS drug therapies;
	(3)  What assessment he has made of the success of the risk sharing scheme for the MS drug therapies since its inception;
	(4)  if he will undertake an interim review to assess progress in implementing the risk sharing scheme for drug therapies for MS; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The risk-sharing scheme is subject to the usual arrangements for clinical governance and audit adopted within the National Health Service. It is the role of the strategic health authority to ensure that policy is delivered appropriately in its area. Each neurology centre submits data to the scheme co-ordinator, Sheffield University's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR).
	Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are not expected to report routinely to the Department, though we have, in this instance, requested reports on progress. We understand that, in most areas if treatment is not already being initiated, it will start over the autumn.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Standing Committee on zootechnics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Standing Committee on Zootechnics meets infrequently and we have no information about when the next meeting will be. UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting, and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Standing Veterinary Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (formerly the Standing Veterinary Committee) generally meets twice a month to discuss public health or animal health matters. The next meeting is due to take place on 8/9 October 2002. UK veterinary representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting, and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.

Beta Interferon

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in making beta interferon available for MS sufferers by (a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts serving (i) West Somerset and (ii) Taunton Deane.

Hazel Blears: Beta interferon and glatiramer acetate are available on the National Health Service for the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) under the ''risk-sharing scheme''. The scheme, which came into operation on 6 May 2002, allows such treatments to be prescribed on the NHS to patients who meet the criteria set out by the Association of British Neurologists. All pharmaceutical companies involved have agreed terms for the supply of their products under the scheme. Patients will be monitored to confirm whether the drugs are working and costs to the NHS will reduce if patients do not benefit as expected.
	Currently, approximately 51 patients from Somerset are receiving treatment. The local primary care trusts are in discussion to arrange funding for an MS nurse beyond the period provided for by the pharmaceutical industry.

Beta Interferon

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what appeal procedures are in place to enable MS patients who have been denied a place on the beta interferon pilot to challenge that decision;
	(2)  what audit procedures are in place to ensure that local implementation takes place of the risk-sharing scheme involving drug therapies for beta interferon that he announced earlier this year;
	(3)  how many patients were receiving treatment with drug therapies for beta interferon in Essex on 5 May; and how many patients are now being treated with these therapies;
	(4)  what controls he intends to use to prevent consultants who do not agree with the wider use of beta interferon from preventing their qualifying MS patients from entering the pilot;
	(5)  what assessment his Department has made of progress in implementing the risk-sharing scheme in relation to beta interferon; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what progress is being made in making beta interferon available for MS sufferers by (a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts serving patients in Essex.

David Lammy: If a clinician has decided that a patient should not receive treatment under the risk-sharing scheme, and that patient is dissatisfied with the decision, we expect the patient would be offered a second opinion from another clinician.
	The risk-sharing scheme is subject to the usual arrangements for clinical governance and audit adopted within the National Health Service. It is the role of the strategic health authority to ensure that policy is delivered appropriately in its area. Each neurology centre submits data to the scheme co-ordinator, Sheffield University's School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR).
	Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are not expected to report routinely to the Department, though we have, in this instance, requested reports on progress. We understand that, in most areas if treatment is not already being initiated, it will start over the autumn.
	We understand that 139 Essex patients were being treated prior to the inception of the scheme and that 19 patients have been initiated on treatment since May.

Frozen Embryo Bank

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place for the management and independent inspection of the Frozen Embryo bank; and how many mismatches have been (a) claimed and (b) verified in the last year.

Hazel Blears: Frozen embryos are stored in centres licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Storage must be in accordance with the conditions of the licence, which include compliance with the HFEA's code of practice. The code of practice is regularly reviewed and laid before Parliament. The HFEA carries out a full inspection of each centre before a licence is given and every three years thereafter. In the interval there are annual inspections of specific aspects of the centre's work. A case involving alleged irregularities in frozen embryo storage is currently subject to court proceedings.

Blood Products

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide funding to allow all NHS patients to access virus-inactivated plasma; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Plasma used for the production of blood products is virus inactivated and is already sourced from United States donors as a precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD.
	An announcement was made on 15 August 2002 that fresh frozen plasma (FFP) will be obtained from the United States for new born babies and children born after 1 January 1996. This measure is designed to protect the most vulnerable group who will not have been exposed to BSE through foodstuffs. The United States FFP will be subject to treatment with methylene blue to reduce the risk of transmission of blood borne viruses.
	The Government expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissue for transplantation is continuing to keep this issue under review and there are currently no plans to allocate further funding.

Blood Products

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the Government did not decide in 1998 to stop the use in transfusions of fresh frozen plasma derived from UK donors; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation did consider the importation of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in 1998. The National Blood Service advised that sustainable supplies of imported plasma for FFP could not be obtained for the large number of patients every year who required it.

Blood Products

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will apply the obligatory safety monitoring and other patient safeguards which are standard for licensed pharmaceutical products to fresh frozen plasma and methylene blue-treated fresh frozen plasma.

Hazel Blears: The Medicines Control Agency already ensures that the United Kingdom's blood services meet European good manufacturing practice standards. In addition, the new European Blood Directive will, when adopted, require the accreditation of all blood establishments to ensure common standards of safety and quality in blood and blood components across all Members States and the reporting of serious adverse reactions attributable to the safety and quality of blood and blood components.
	The UK serious hazards of transfusion (SHOT) reporting system has had safety monitoring of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and methylene blue treated FFP in place for five years. Although SHOT is a voluntary scheme the level of reporting compares favourably with reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions associated with licensed pharmaceuticals. Ninety two per cent. of hospitals in the UK already participate in SHOT and recent guidance to the National Health Service on the appropriate use of blood asks all hospitals to ensure participation www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html. SHOT publishes an annual report, and a copy of the most recent, for 2000–2001, has been placed in the Library.
	The National Blood Service is developing a new patient information leaflet for all patients who will undergo a transfusion with blood or blood components.

Blood Products

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce his decision regarding the funding for the provision of non-UK plasma; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Plasma used for the production of blood products is already sourced from United States donors as a precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD.
	An announcement was made on 15 August 2002 that fresh frozen plasma (FFP) will be obtained from the United States for new born babies and children born after 1 January 1996. This measure is designed to protect the most vulnerable group who will not have been exposed to BSE through foodstuffs.
	The Government expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissue for transplantation is continuing to keep this issue under review.

Blood Products

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to prevent the transmissions of West Nile Fever in blood purchased from the United States for use in the UK.

Hazel Blears: Plasma is currently imported from the United States for the production of plasma products, as a precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD transmission. Viral inactivation of these products is carried out as a safety measure to remove the risk to patients of transfusion transmittable viruses, including West Nile fever virus, should it be present. The decision to import plasma for babies and young children born after 1 January 1996 from the United States was recently announced. This plasma will also undergo viral inactivation.

Blood Products

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason methylene blue-treated fresh frozen plasma is being advocated for use in children and others by the National Blood Service; and what assessment he has made of its safety.

Hazel Blears: As an added precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD transmission, the Government's expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation (MSBT) has recommended importing single unit fresh frozen plasma (FFP) from the United States. On 15 August 2002 the Government announced that imported FFP would be used for new-born babies and young children born after 1 January 1996.
	On the advice of MSBT, US sourced FFP will be virally inactivated using methylene blue (MB) treatment. MB has been administered in medical practice since 1900, and in much larger doses, many thousand-fold, than the National Blood Service (NBS) will be using. NBS will be removing more than 90 per cent. of MB before the FFP is issued to National Health Service hospitals. MB is a registered medical device under the Medical Devices Directive and has a European safety (CE) marking.

Oxygen

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available at reasonable cost ambulatory and/or liquid oxygen to those with respiratory difficulties likely to benefit.

David Lammy: I have no plans at present to change the arrangements under which oxygen is provided for patients who need it. The current review of the domiciliary oxygen service has not yet been concluded.

Asthma Nebulisers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make more asthma nebulisers available on prescription.

David Lammy: We consider that asthma nebulisers are best provided to patients on loan from specialist National Health Services services. We have no current plans to make them available on general practitioner prescription.

Hospital Chaplains

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the discussions between his officials and the Multi-faith joint First National Working Group in relation to advice and information for hospital chaplains.

David Lammy: Department officials have been working closely for some time with the multi-faith joint national working group via their chosen representative, the Chief Executive of the hospital chaplaincies council to produce renewed advice on the provision of chaplaincy services in the National Health Service.

Hospital Chaplains

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the Patient Information Advisory Group with regard to the work of hospital chaplains.

David Lammy: The patient information advisory group has advised me that National Health Service trusts should seek consent from patients before information about their religious affiliations can be passed to hospital chaplains. The NHS will need to develop systems for supporting the work of chaplains whilst recording and respecting the preferences of patients. I have placed a copy of the advisory group's advice in the Library.

Care Homes

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimates his Department has made of the total cost to social services departments of the recent decision by the Competition Commission Appeal Tribunal on social services department funding of care home placements;
	(2)  what advice he will issue to social services departments in England on abiding by the recent Competition Commission Appeal Tribunal decision on social services department funding of care home placements; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The judgement by the competition commission appeal tribunal, in the case of Bettercare versus the Director General of Fair Trading, found that purchasing by a public body, in certain circumstances, is an economic activity carried out by an undertaking and therefore may be subject to the provisions of the Competition Act 1998. The judgement reflected a particular set of circumstances and is not of general application. In broad terms, the Competition Act is concerned with anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant market positions. We would not expect councils to be acting in ways that are inconsistent with the Competition Act. The Government's White Paper Modernising Social Services made clear that councils should apply best value principles when securing social care services, whether those services are directly provided or purchased from a private or voluntary sector organisation.

Care Homes

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care home places for elderly people were closed in the Huntingdon constituency during the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: The information is not centrally available.

Children's Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the recent report into the preparation of the Social Services Inspectorate report on children's services in the London Borough of Haringey.

Jacqui Smith: The Social Services Inspectorate did not prepare a report into the preparation of the inspection of children's services in the London Borough of Haringey. The most recent published report is that of the Inspection of Children's Services February 2002, which was published on 1 July 2002.

Looked-after Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the GCSE exam performance of looked-after children in 2002.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not currently available. Data on the educational qualifications of care leavers aged 16 or more in year ending 31 March 2002 will be published by the Department in November 2002.

Social Services Inspectorate

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to the Social Services Inspectorate concerning the role of inspected social services departments assisting service users and carers in completing questionnaires distributed as part of a Social Services Inspectorate inspection.

Jacqui Smith: No guidance has been given to the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) on this topic. SSI is committed to obtaining the views of service users as part of its assessment of social services functions. SSI has advised inspected authorities that they should offer independent help to users and carers when they are completing questionnaires as part of an inspection, particularly for those people who may have difficulties completing a questionnaire.

Information Systems

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the steps his Department has taken and plans to take to identify and remove incompatibility between NHS and social service information systems.

David Lammy: The national strategic implementation programme for delivering 21 Century information technology support for the National Health Service, published by the Department in June 2002, sets out the actions required to meet the targets of the NHS Plan. A key element in this programme is the development of the integrated care records service (ICRS), which seeks to address the problems caused by the incompatibility of health and social service systems.
	Over the last two years, the Department has also commissioned a number of projects that have sought to identify and provide practical solutions to the problems of integrating health and social care systems. Two of the projects within the electronic records development and implementation programme (ERDIP), supported by the NHS information authority, have developed joint records for use by all members of community mental health teams, including both health and social services staff. Also, within the Information for Social Care demonstrator programme, a number of the projects have addressed issues relating to the sharing and exchange of information between health and social care agencies.
	These issues are also being progressed through the information strategies which support the national service frameworks, particularly those relating to mental health, older people and children's services.

Hepatitis C

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of the measures (a) available and (b) required to prevent, treat and manage cases of chronic hepatitis C infection.

Hazel Blears: We published Hepatitis C Strategy for England for consultation on 14 August 2002 in recognition of the importance of hepatitis C as an important public health issue, as highlighted in the Chief Medical Officer's infectious disease strategy, Getting Ahead of the Curve. The strategy sets out the current situation and proposals to improve the effectiveness of prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for hepatitis C.
	Following consultation, it is intended that the strategy will form the basis of an action plan, as proposed in Getting Ahead of the Curve. This will serve as a clear framework setting out actions that need to be taken by Government, the National Health Service and others to intensify efforts to tackle hepatitis C.

Folic Acid

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility the Food Standards Agency has with respect to informing Government policy on the fortification of flour with folic acid.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency was asked to consider and provide advice on the practical risk management issues which were linked to options for achieving universal fortification of flour with folic acid.

Folic Acid

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of fortifying flour with folic acid on (a) the occurrence of birth defects and (b) the incidence of cardiovascular disease in other countries;
	(2)  if he will ask the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to review evidence on the effects of folic acid in lowering homocysteine and reducing cardiovascular disease.

Hazel Blears: The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA, 2000), assessed the effects of folic acid on birth defects, such as neural tube defects (NTD), and estimated that fortification of flour with folic acid at a level of 240 micrograms per 100g could reduce the incidence of NTD affected pregnancies by 43 per cent. In terms of other countries, mandatory fortification has been implemented in the US, Canada and Chile. Recent research in some US States has linked the policy with a fall in the incidence of NTD. However, the level of fortification in other countries varies considerably from that recommended by COMA and therefore the results may not be directly comparable.
	There is epidemiological evidence that increasing dietary folate may reduce blood levels of homocysteine, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the effect of increasing folate intake on the incidence of CVD is not as yet conclusive. Results of ongoing randomised controlled trials are awaited.
	I have no plans at present to refer the matter of links between folic acid, homocysteine levels, and cardiovascular disease to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. However, it is open to the Committee to review the developing evidence in this area if it feels this is appropriate.

Folic Acid

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make a decision on his policy on the fortification of flour with folic acid.

Hazel Blears: The decision on this complex issue requires careful consideration of both the benefits and the possible risks of fortification. The options are currently being considered, in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA, 2000); responses to the consultation process, carried out in 2000; and advice from the Food Standards Agency.

Prescriptions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average amount paid to Her Majesty's Government from the prescription charge was for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Data for 2000–01 indicate that on average each person who was liable to pay prescription charges, excluding those who held a pre-payment certificate, paid for around three prescription items.
	Prescription charges collected in England for each of the last ten years are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Prescription Charge Total Collected (including PPC sales) #m 
		
		
			 1991–92 3.40 215.2 
			 1992–93 3.75 242.0 
			 1993–94 4.25 265.3 
			 1994–95 4.75 287.2 
			 1995–96 5.25 298.7 
			 1996–97 5.50 295.7 
			 1997–98 5.65 320.9 
			 1998–99 5.80 341.3 
			 1999–00 5.90 366.7 
			 2000–01 6.00 386.9

Prescriptions

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what clinical benefits are expected from the electronic transfer of prescriptions programme;
	(2)  what the projected lifetime cost is of implementing the electronic transfer of prescriptions programme.

David Lammy: The electronic transmission of prescriptions between general practitioner practices and community pharmacists is just one element of a wider programme to modernise pharmacy services and the issue of prescriptions. The aim is to implement a new national prescriptions service that supports improved information on individuals' past and current medication, the move from paper based prescriptions with handwriting to secure electronic prescriptions with digital or graphical text and better decision support with integrated access to online drug dictionaries. There will be many building blocks that make up the whole national prescriptions service and at an infrastructure level the electronic transfer of prescriptions and prescription messaging together with connections and computers for pharmacists will be essential.
	The benefits of a national prescriptions service are then considerable. They will include:
	safer prescribing to save lives and reduce harm by automatic checks on drug interactions and dosage, and less errors arising from illegible or incomplete prescriptions
	a more convenient service for patients with easier and faster repeat prescriptions and choice over where they would like to collect their prescriptions
	better medicines management and the dramatic reduction of fraud and loss of money that can be put into patient care.
	A business case is being prepared for the national prescriptions service and its key components. This will identify, and provide more detail for, the full range of patient, clinical and efficiency benefits to be realised. The outline business case should be completed by January 2003.

Prescriptions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the prescription charging system.

David Lammy: We have no current plans to review the prescription charging arrangements.

Mercury

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has commissioned on the impact of mercury in vaccines and its effect upon children; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has recently reviewed the currently available data relating to possible neurotoxicity of thiomersal (a mercury-containing compound) in vaccines and advised that there is no evidence of harm caused by doses of thiomersal in vaccines, except for sensitisation reactions. The CSM concluded that the risk: benefit balance of thiomersal-containing vaccines remains overwhelmingly positive.
	The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the United States also published a detailed review of the evidence relating to possible neurotoxicity of thiomersal in vaccines in October 2001. The IOM review also concluded that the evidence did not support a causal association between thiomersal contained in vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings were consistent with the CSM conclusions.
	We are aware of two studies in the United Kingdom looking at the relationship between mercury in vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. One of these studies is funded by the Department and uses the Avon longitudinal study of pregnancy and childhood. The other study is using the general practice research database and is funded jointly by WHO and PHLS, which receives its funding from the Department. Neither of these studies supports an association between thiomersal exposure through the UK programme and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The results of these studies have been made available to the Department and a summary of the findings is available in a Report to The US Congress which will be placed in the Library.

Vaccines

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the four projects that are directly related to generating and testing new vaccine candidates and make a statement on the Government's involvement in each.

Hazel Blears: Both the national institute for biological standards and control and public health laboratory service receive funding from government, some of which is spent on research and may be related to new vaccine work. They also receive funding/grants from other external sources, which includes help with research and development on vaccine activity.

Vaccines

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts to manufacture vaccines awarded to Powderject by his Department over the past two years, stating in each case what vaccines were to be supplied, when the order was placed, what the value of each contract was, where each vaccine was to be manufactured and whether the order was put out to a full competitive tender.

John Hutton: In the past two years, the following contracts have been awarded to Powderject:
	
		
			 Vaccine Date contract awarded Site of manufacture 
		
		
			 BCG & PPD 10 March 2001 UK 
			 Influenza 6 August 2001 UK 
			 Smallpox 11 April 2002 Germany 
		
	
	All were put out to normal competitive tender except for smallpox, which was not subject to the normal competitive tendering process on the grounds of protection of the basic interests of the security of the UK.
	We do not disclose the value and quantity of the contracts, as this is commercially confidential.

Vaccines

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which company was awarded the contract to produce anti-tuberculosis vaccines for his Department last March; how much the value of that contract came to; and whether the cost represented a significant increase on previous contracts to manufacture similar vaccines.

Hazel Blears: PowderJect were awarded a two-year contract for the supply of BCG vaccine in March 2001. Information surrounding the value of individual contracts is commercially confidential and is not disclosed.

Vaccines

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preparations his Department has made with respect to purchasing further doses of smallpox vaccine, subsequent to the contract awarded to Powderject.

John Hutton: Our longer term requirements for licensed Lister strain smallpox vaccine are currently under consideration

Vaccines

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role Impfstoffwerke Dessau Tornau is to play in the manufacture of the smallpox vaccine which will be supplied to the Government by Powderject.

John Hutton: Impfstoffwerke Dessau Tornau GmbH (IDT) is the subcontracting manufacturer of the new smallpox vaccine for Bavarian Nordic, with whom PowderJect have an exclusive agreement for the supply of smallpox vaccine.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) the Pituitary Foundation, (b) the Royal College of Physicians and (c) the Society for Endocrinology on the subject of growth hormone deficiency.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Pituitary Foundation, The Royal College of Physicians or the Society for Endocrinology on the subject of growth hormone deficiency.
	In May the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended to the National Health Service in England and Wales that human growth hormone (somatropin) is both a clinically and cost effective way to treat children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency. A decision on adult growth hormone deficiency is eexpected from NICE shortly.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the average cost of treatment for individuals suffering from growth hormone deficiency in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The cost of treatment depends on the dose, which is determined by the weight and size of the patient, as well as the individual growth hormone reserve. The average annual cost of growth hormone treatment, based on March 2002 figures, is around #3350 per patient.

Correspondence

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to answer the correspondence from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, referred to him by the Prime Minister, concerning Dr. Chai Patel and his membership of advisory committees; and if he will list those committees.

Alan Milburn: I replied on 7 October 2002.

Correspondence

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 10 January from the hon. Member for New Forest West.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 May 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 1 July 2002.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 19 April, 16 May, 14 June and 11 July relating to correspondence from Mr. Hugh McKinney of Cert.

David Lammy: holding answer 16 July 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 30 July 2002.

Epilepsy

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will set a national target for reduction of epilepsy deaths;
	(2)  whether the Home Office is being consulted on the Action Plan to address the findings in the National Audit of Epilepsy-Related Death on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations;
	(3)  what plans he has to address the information and support needs for bereaved families affected by SUDEP and other epilepsy deaths;
	(4)  what plans he has to address the findings in the epilepsy deaths report on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations.

Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) on Thursday 19 September 2002, Official Report, col. 344W.
	We are working with the Royal College of Pathologists to promote their guidelines on autopsy practice, to improve post mortem investigations. The guidelines cover neuropathological cases, including deaths in epilepsy. Additionally we propose to consider ways of improving practice in new death certification and investigation procedures in the light of the Home Office review of coroners system which is due to report in April 2003.

GPs

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners (a) took early retirement and (b) left for other reasons from primary care practice in Sunderland in each year since 1998.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002* 
		
		
			 Early retirement 2 2 4 1 2 
			 Left for other reasons 13 7 18 15 8 
		
	
	Notes:
	Early retirement is defined as under 60 years
	* 2002 to end of August
	Source:
	Northumberland and Tyne & Wear Strategic Health Authority

GPs

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) female and (b) male GPs took up their first post in the NHS since 1998; what available number of GP training places there were in each year since 1998; what special measures were taken locally to recruit GPs since 1998; broken down by each health authority/PCT in the Northern and Yorkshire areas; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Data are not collected in the format requested.

GPs

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for general practitioners there were in the Taunton constituency in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Department first carried out a survey into general practitioner (GP) recruitment, retention and vacancies in 2000. The information is collated on a health authority basis.
	In the 2000 survey Somerset Health Authority reported that it had four GP vacancies outstanding at some time in the 12 month period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000. In the 2001 survey there were 28 general practitioner (GP) vacancies at some time in the 12 months from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001.
	Results from the 2002 survey should be available later in the year.

Bed Blocking

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been blocked in Somerset hospitals in each month in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Hazel Blears: Information on delayed transfers of care has been collected at health authority level and has been placed in the Library. Figures are available for the four Quarters of calendar year 2001 and the first Quarter of 2002.

Nursing

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing posts there are at the (a) Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust and (b) South Somerset NHS Trust which have been vacant for three months or more.

Hazel Blears: The three month vacancy rate1,2 for qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in Taunton & Somerset Hospital National Health Service Trust is 0.3 per cent. This is based on less than five vacancies3 and staff in post of 980 whole time equivalents and 1,260 headcount.
	There is no data available for South Somerset Primary Care Trust. This was a new primary care trust in April 2002 after the three month vacancy survey was undertaken.
	Source: Department of Health Vacancy Survey 2002
	Department of Health Non medical workforce census September 2001
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2002 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalent)
	2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from this survey.
	3. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest ten.
	4. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	5. Due to rounding calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rate.
	6. Staff in post data is from the non-medical workforce census September 2001.
	7. Figures exclude learners.

Nursing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council concerning their processing of registration applications from non-EU qualified nurses with special reference to the efficient process of applications for registration; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I met with Mr. Jonathan Asbridge, President of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), in July to receive a progress report from him regarding the implementation of the new Nursing and Midwifery Order. The well-publicised problems of the NMC regarding delays in the processing of applications for registrations formed part of those discussions and I am, through my officials, continuing to monitor the progress of the NMC in addressing these issues.
	I support the continuing actions taken by the President to resolve the immediate issues and his commitment to undertake a comprehensive review of the systems and processes that the organisation inherited from its predecessor, the United Kingdom central council for nurses, midwives and health visitors (UKCC).
	I am advised that the NMC has cleared the backlogs in the UK applications and is continuing to target resources at registration applications from those qualified overseas, from both within and outside the European Union.

Anaphylactic Attacks

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what advice his Department has given to pharmacies to have epipens available to treat anaphylactic attacks;
	(2)  what requirements there are for pharmacies to have epipens available to treat anaphylactic attacks.

David Lammy: The Department has not given any advice to pharmacies that requires them to have eipipens available to treat anaphylactic shock. As epipens are prescribable items we would expect pharmacies to stock them as a matter of course.
	The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their code of ethics refers to emergencies and states ''Pharmacists must assist persons in need of emergency first aid or medical treatment whether by administering first aid within their competence or by summoning assistance and or the emergency services''.

Anaphylactic Attacks

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given to (a) nursery and (b) primary schools about special measures for children susceptible to (i) anaphylactic shocks and (ii) other allergies.

David Lammy: In 1996 the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment issued joint guidance on Supporting pupils with medical needs in schools. The guidance, which was sent to health authorities and local education authorities, covers treatment and the development of healthcare plans for pupils suffering from potentially life threatening medical conditions, including anaphylaxis. Although aimed primarily at schools the guidance was also recommended to special schools, nursery schools and further education colleges.

Anaphylactic Attacks

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability in (a) schools, (b) chemists, (c) restaurants and (d) doctor's surgeries of epipens to treat anaphylactic shocks.

David Lammy: In 1996 the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment issued joint guidance on Supporting pupils with medical needs in schools. The guidance, which was sent to health authorities and local education authorities, covers treatment and the development of healthcare plans for pupils suffering from potentially life threatening medical conditions, including anaphylaxis. Although aimed primarily at schools the guidance was also recommended to special schools, nursery schools and further education colleges.
	The Department has not assessed pharmacies regarding the availability of epipens. As epipens are prescribable items we would expect pharmacies to stock them as a matter of course. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their code of ethics refers to emergencies and states ''Pharmacists must assist persons in need of emergency first aid or medical treatment whether by administering first aid within their competence or by summoning assistance and or the emergency services''.
	There has been no assessment of the availability of epipens in restaurants and doctors' surgeries.

Food Poisoning

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning were contracted during a hospital stay in each of the last five years, broken down by trust.

David Lammy: Data on food poisoning cases contracted during a hospital stay are not available. The table shows reported outbreaks of food borne infectious intestinal disease in England from 1997 to 2001 by strategic health authority.
	
		
			 Year Number of outbreaks Strategic Health Authority Number of people ill* 
		
		
			 1997 1 Kent 38 
			 1997 1 London 2 
			 1997 1 Northumberland 36 
			 1997 1 Somerset 14 
			  
			 1997 (total) 4  90 
			  
			 1998 1 Thames Valley 10 
			 1998 1 Norfolk 27 
			 1998 1 Surrey 100 
			  
			 1998 (total) 3  137 
			  
			 1999 1 Hampshire 7 
			 1999 1 North Yorkshire 35 
			 1999 1 Hampshire 50 
			  
			 1999 (total) 3  92 
			  
			 2000 1 Essex 6 
			 2000 1 South West Peninsula 106 
			 2000 1 Essex 8 
			  
			 2000 (total) 3  120 
			 2001 (total) 0  0 
			 1997 to 2001 (total) 13  537 
		
	
	Note:
	* includes patients and staff
	Data source:
	PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance CentreGSURV Gastrointestinal Diseases Division

Restenosis

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether percutaneous coronary interventions with bare stents increased after the National Institute for Clinical Excellence completed its appraisal of stents in May 2000;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the cost of readmitting patients who have restenosis after revascularisation;
	(3)  if his Department has set targets for the reduction of restenosis following stenting in revascularisation.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect cost or activity data that relates solely to hospital readmission and has not made any assessment about the cost of readmitting patients who have restenosis after revascularisation.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of percutaneous coronary interventions that involve the use of stents.
	The Department has not set any targets for reduction in restenosis following stenting in revascularisation.

NICE

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to ensure that health economic data used by NICE is accurate, reliable and up-to-date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the reliability and accuracy of health economic data used by NICE in its appraisals; what mechanisms exist to review the reliability and accuracy of the data; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) appeals committee obtains health economics data from two main sourcesa technology assessment report (TAR) prepared for each appraisal and submissions from manufacturers.
	The academic teams which prepare TARs were selected through a competitive tendering process which provides assurance of their competence to carry out this work. Before presenting the TAR to NICE, the team seeks the comments of expert reviewers and technical staff at NICE. The TAR is subsequently scrutinised by the NICE appraisal committee and by consultees to the appraisal.
	Submissions from sponsors of technologies (including manufacturing) are critically examined by the academic teams which produce TARs, by the technical staff at NICE and by the appraisal committee.
	There is therefore a comprehensive process in place for quality assuring the evidence used in NICE appraisals.

NICE

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the credibility and clarity of NICE guidance; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We have received correspondence about many appraisals in which the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended restricted use of a technology.
	The Health Select Committee, on which the hon. Member serves, has published its conclusions on the credibility and clarity of NICE guidance. The Government response was published in September 2002 as Command Paper 5611.

NICE

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given NICE in respect of his policy of enhancing patient choice in the context of NICE appraisals of modes of dialysis.

David Lammy: None. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence carries out its appraisals independently of Ministers.

Blood Products

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make the reporting of adverse incidents associated with transfusions in the NHS mandatory.

Hazel Blears: The serious hazards of transfusion (SHOT) reports provide a comprehensive picture of serious transfusion complications in the UK. The fifth annual SHOT report (published April 2002) showed an increase in participation to 92 per cent. of eligible hospitals. Participation in the scheme has been encouraged by guidance to the National Health Service, most recently in HSC 2002/009(''Better Blood TransfusionAppropriate use of blood'') http://www.doh.gov.uk/bbt2/009hsc2002). This asks Chief Executives of National Health Service trusts to ensure participation in the SHOT scheme by December 2002.
	SHOT is currently collaborating with the new National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) whose core function is to improve the safety of NHS patient care by promoting a culture of reporting and learning from adverse incidents and professional errors without fear of personal reprimand. The NPSA reporting system will be implemented across the NHS from 2003 and will cover of all types adverse incidents and ''near misses'' affecting NHS patients, including those associated with transfusions.
	The draft European Commission Directive on standards of quality and safety of human blood and blood components requires Member States to report ''any serious adverse events (accidents and errors) related to the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of blood and blood components which may have an influence on their quality and safety, as well as any serious adverse reactions observed during or after transfusion which may be attributed to the quality and the safety of blood and blood components''.

Blood Products

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the mortality and morbidity levels associated with fresh frozen plasma.

Hazel Blears: The Government's advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissue for transplantation is continuing to consider the relative efficacy and risks of the different types of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) available.
	United Kingdom FFP is already a very safe product. To minimise the risk from viruses, it is made only from previously tested blood donors. Since the year 2000, an additional test for hepatitis C has been added. As a result the risk from a unit of FFP is estimated to be one in five million for HIV and lower than one in one million for hepatitis C. Over 300,000 units of FFP are issued annually and it is only given in life-threatening situations to prevent or stop haemorrhage associated with abnormal blood clotting.
	The National Blood Service is conducting an option appraisal of means to minimise the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury from FFP.

Blood Products

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received in favour of the use of solvent detergent-treated transfusion plasma produced from United States of America plasma; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government has received correspondence from Octapharma Ltd supporting the increased use of their product ''Octaplas''. Department officials have also met Octapharma and further discussions are planned.
	''Octaplas'' is licensed in the United Kingdom and can be purchased by National Health Service trusts. It is made by pooling plasma from donors but is treated with solvent detergent to reduce the increased risk of viruses caused by pooling. There would also appear to be a reduced risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) with this product. We understand that it is not yet made exclusively from United States plasma but soon will be.
	United Kingdom sourced fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is also available from the National Blood Service and is more commonly used by the NHS than Octaplas. It is made from single donations from donors who have been previously tested for viruses to minimise the risk of infection. Like all blood for transfusion, FFP is also leucodepleted to reduce the theoretical risk from vCJD.
	As an added precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD, the Government announced on 15 August that FFP for young children and babies will be imported from the United States. This FFP will be treated with methylene blue to reduce the risk of viral transmission still further for this most vulnerable group. This decision was made following advice from the advisory committee on microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation (MSBT) who are continuing to review the safety of FFP.

Blood Transfusions

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are required to transfuse anaemic cancer patients at the haemoglobin levels recommended by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology, following the publication of the Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood Transfusion; Appropriate Use of Blood.

Hazel Blears: The Department published Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood TransfusionAppropriate Use of Blood on 4 July 2002, available on www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html. This circular recommends that National Health Service trusts adopt national guidelines for the appropriate use of blood and recommends a number of national guidelines and web sites, including guidelines from the British committee for standards in haematology published in 2001. These guidelines provide specific advice to clinicians. The type of treatment offered to anaemic cancer patients is a matter of individual clinical judgement and discussion with the patient concerned.

Blood Transfusions

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are required to give patients information on (a) the alternatives to transfusion and (b) the standards of transfusion in advance of receiving treatment following the publication of the Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood TransfusionAppropriate Use of Blood.

Hazel Blears: The Department published Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood TransfusionAppropriate Use of Blood, on 4 July 2002, available on www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html. This circular asks National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts to ensure that written information is made available to patients on transfusion and the alternatives by April 2003.

National Blood Authority

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much state subsidy the National Blood Authority has received over the past three years; if he will publish its full consolidated accounts in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the central funding which the Government has provided to the National Blood Authority (NBA) between 19992000 and 20012002.
	
		
			  Revenue (# million) Capital (# million) 
		
		
			 1999/2000 17.127 18.715 
			 2000/2001 17.257 11.500 
			 2001/2002 46.550 16.149 
		
	
	The published annual reports of the NBA contain financial statements in summary form. Each report states that a full set of Accounts can be provided by NBA on request.
	A full set of NBA Accounts for 200001 have been placed in the Library.

Care Homes

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 121W, if he will make it his policy to collect this data.

Jacqui Smith: There are currently no plans to publish information on nursing and care home beds more frequently than annually. Information relating to the change in the number of homes between 2001 and 2002 will be available later this year. The National Care Standards Commission is developing its database to enable the production of information linked to its Royal Commission requirements. Within this context, information relating to the quality and capacity of residential and nursing care home beds will be available later this year.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 459W, on care homes, if he will place copies in the Library of the letters sent to national providers about the increases in fees experienced by residents.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 May 2002
	No, as the correspondence relates to the commercial or contractual activities of care homes.

NHS Clinical Governance Support Programmes

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total running cost has been of the NHS Clinical Governance Support programmes.

David Lammy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Programme Cost 2001/2002 #000s 
		
		
			 Clinical Governance Development Programme 578 
			 Strategic Leadership of Board Development 
			 Programme 235 
			 Protected Time Pilot Programme 3241 
			 General Practitioner Appraisal Training 
			 Programme 67 
			  
			 Total 1,204 
		
	
	Note:
	1 plus #50,000 for each of the 19 NHS pilot sites to support them in the local delivery of the programme

Transplants

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he plans to publish his consultation paper on organ transplantation;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the progress towards the United Kingdom's transplants target of 2,500 transplants per annum by 200506.

David Lammy: At the first ever organ donation and transplantation summit in February 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched a draft planOrgan and Tissue Transplantationa plan for the future. The plan issued for consultation included draft proposals aimed at increasing kidney donation rates to achieve 2500 renal transplants in England by 20056. We are considering the comments received. A final version of the plan is being developed and will be published in due course. UK transplant continually monitors transplant activity and the latest figures are available from their website (www.uktransplant.org.uk).

Clinical Governance

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the (a) background and (b) intentions of the strategic leadership of the Clinical Governance Board programme led by the NHS Governance Support Team.

David Lammy: The NHS Plan for investment and reform identifies the need to put in place a robust management and support framework to deliver national standards of care. The strategic leadership of clinical governance board development programme was introduced in February 2001 to ensure top-level board commitment to deliver these national standards.
	Currently the board development team is working with 100 National Health Service organisations to enable them to deliver safe, high quality healthcare. They enable boards strategically to factor in external drivers and future changes to create a clinically focused strategy and development plan that make a difference to the lives of patients and health professionals.

Blood Donors

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of blood donors who will be removed from the blood donor base if recipients of blood are banned from donating blood.

Hazel Blears: The National Blood Service estimates that approximately 135,000, or 7.7 per cent., to 255,000, or 14.5 per cent. of blood donors would be removed from the donor base if it was decided to exclude donors who had previously received a blood transfusion, as a precautionary measure to minimise the theoretical risk of transmitting vCJD through blood. The Government's expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation is currently considering this along with other possible vCJD risk reduction measures.

Neo-Natal Services

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason there has been a delay in publishing the report on the future of neo-natal services in England; and when it will be published.

Jacqui Smith: The report on the future of neonatal services in England was delayed so as to allow for the implications of its recommendations to be more fully assessed. It is anticipated that the report will now be published for consultation later this year.

Surgical Instruments

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS hospitals have received delivery of new surgical instrument decontamination equipment as a result of the commitment of the #200 million at the start of 2001;
	(2)  what progress has been made with regard to spending the money announced at the start of 2001 to upgrade hospital decontamination facilities.

David Lammy: At the end of August, #85 million had been allocated to 101 schemes proposed by National Health Service trusts for improving their decontamination facilities. These schemes included purchasing new equipment, upgrading the buildings used for reprocessing and purchasing new surgical instruments to facilitate the centralisation of reprocessing. This, together with contributions from the NHS trusts themselves, amounted to an investment of some #107 million. Similar bids worth another #10 million were still being considered.
	In order to get the best value for money, the tendering process for equipment has been undertaken by the NHS purchasing and supply agency. Individual contracts are awarded by the NHS trusts themselves, taking into account local issues such as the expected completion of essential building work. The installation of equipment will follow these necessary preparations.

Surgical Instruments

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the procurement rounds organised by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency for new surgical instrument decontamination equipment since the commitment of #200 million at the start of 2001.

David Lammy: The NHS purchasing and supply agency tendered for all the sterilizers and washer-disinfector requirements that were identified as part of the immediate investment process to upgrade existing decontamination facilities within the National Health Service in England.
	This major investment covers in excess of 70 NHS trusts across the country for 115 sterilizers, 171 washer-disinfectors and a large amount of associated equipment and accessories to the approximate value of #28 million.
	A number of suitable sites have recently been identified for intermediate investment and the NHS purchasing and supply agency is in the process of procuring this additional equipment.
	A significant proportion of the #200 million is being spent on building work to improve segregation and the purchase of surgical instruments to enable centralisation of the service.

PFI Funding

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in England have had PFI funding in (a) 200001 and (b) 200102.

John Hutton: In the year from April 2000, 24 contracts, with a value of #1 million or greater, were signed. In the year from April 2001, 11 contracts with a value of #1 million or greater, were signed.
	No records are kept centrally of schemes valued at less than #1 million.

Hospitals (Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rules are governing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco (a) on hospital premises, (b) in patient areas and (c) in emergency services staff areas.

Hazel Blears: There are no centrally imposed rules on alcohol consumption on National Health Service premises, but all NHS trusts are expected to have policies in place that reflect their need to provide patients with high quality medical care in a safe environment. The Department issued Guidance entitled Taking alcohol and other drugs out of the NHS workplace in February 2001, which deals with the issue of alcohol consumption by NHS staff, but does not ban it from NHS premises.
	Many NHS trusts have already banned smoking in their hospitals and hospital grounds and the Government have set milestones for implementing smoking policies across the NHS as part of the national service framework on coronary heart disease.

Reserve Forces Doctors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the operating cost was of the compulsory mobilisation of reserve forces doctors employed by the NHS on 16 May.

John Hutton: Data on the operating cost are not held centrally.

Elective Surgery Abroad

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the pilot scheme to refer NHS patients overseas for elective surgery.

John Hutton: The pilot scheme for treating National Health Services patients in other countries in the European Economic Area was evaluated by the York Health Economics Consortium. Their evaluation has been published and is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/international and the Library.

Elective Surgery Abroad

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 July, ref 68035, what quality checks are in place for elective operations performed abroad under contract to the NHS.

John Hutton: The Department has established lead commissioning arrangements for overseas healthcare capacity. Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service Trust is responsible for finding high quality elective treatment capacity and providers of clinical teams to come to this country in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and northern Europe. Kent and Medway Health Authority is responsible for finding treatment capacity and providers of clinical teams in France, Spain and more southerly countries.
	The Department has advised NHS primary care trusts and NHS trusts to approach one of the two NHS lead commissioners if they wish to arrange for treatment for patients abroad.
	In selecting hospitals in other countries in the European Economic Area to treat NHS patients the lead commissioners take into account relevant paper evidence and visit hospitals where patients may potentially be treated. Quality requirements are set out in the contracts agreed between the lead commissioners and the hospitals abroad. The Department has asked the lead commissioners to ensure that contracts with overseas healthcare providers will require them to afford reasonable access to the Commission for Health Improvement and other appropriate bodies.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total amount of Government funding has been for research and development into issues related to overweight people and obesity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in health and social care.
	The MRC has a large commitment to nutrition generally with major investments in the MRC Dunn human nutrition unit, the MRC resource centre for human nutrition research and the MRC international nutrition group. Spend on the whole portfolio amounted to #16.6 million in 200102, for example.
	The total MRC and Department expenditure specifically on obesity related research for the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year #million 
		
		
			 1997/1998 #0.3 
			 1998/1999 #0.5 
			 1999/2000 #1.0 
			 2000/2001 #2.0 
			 2001/2002 #2.1 
		
	
	In addition, the Department provides National Health Service (NHS) support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that takes place in the NHS. Details of ongoing and recently completed research projects funded by, or of interest to, the NHS are available on the national research register at www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.

NHS Financial Directors

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many financial directors were employed in the National Health Service in (a) 1979 and (b) 1997 and are now employed in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) the UK.

David Lammy: In 1979 it was not compulsory for every National Health Service body in England to appoint a Finance Director. Records are not held centrally of how many were in post at that time.
	Since 1979 each NHS body in England has been required to appoint a Finance Director. The number of such bodies was 543 in March 1997 and 596 in March 2002.
	The position in other countries within the United Kingdom is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Child Psychotherapists

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the availability of funding for child and adolescent psychotherapists in South West Hampshire;
	(2)  how many child and adolescent psychotherapists are practising in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; and what funding is being made available for training posts.

Hazel Blears: A total of 5.7 whole time equivalent (wte) child psychotherapists are employed across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
	The Department allocates the multi-professional education and training levy to local workforce development confederations (WDCs) for the training of health professionals, including child psychotherapists.
	The Hampshire and Isle of Wight WDC is responsible for deciding priorities for investment in new training places and is aware of a bid for a child psychotherapy trainee in Southampton. The WDC has not been able to fund all the bids it received this year for additional training places in the many different health professions but bids will be reconsidered against next year's allocation.

Patient Records

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to enable a person to access patients' records made before 1 November 2001.

David Lammy: The Data Protection Act 1998, which came into force in March 2000, enables individuals to apply for access to their health records, regardless of when their records were created. The Access to Health Records Act 1990, which came in to force in November 1991 governs rights of access to the health records of deceased persons.

Patient Records

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests to access patient records were made in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 under the Data Protection Act 1998.

David Lammy: The information requested in not held centrally.

Patient Records

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations have been received by the Information Commissioner on access to patients' records being refused in each year since 1990.

David Lammy: I have been informed by the Office of the Information Commissioner that it holds general information about the number of enquiries and complaints it has received regarding health matters under the Data Protection Act 1998 since it came in to force on 1 March 2000, but it does not hold details of the specific issues involved in each case. Prior to this date the majority of requests for access to health records were governed by the Access to Health Records Act 1990, but no information is held centrally on numbers of requests or refusals.

Patient Records

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms his Department has put in place to remove the variations between trusts in the standard of structure and content of patient records.

David Lammy: The delivery of electronic records is being taken forward in implementing the national strategic programme Delivering 21st Century ITSupport for the NHS which was announced by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (the Lord Hunt of Kingsheath) following the publication of Delivering the NHS Plan on 11 June 2002. One of the key aspects of phase one of the programme requires all primary care trusts and National Health Service trusts and hospitals to implement elements of electronic patient records by December 2005.
	To support the NHS toward delivering this vision the Department in July 2002 published for consultation the National Specification for the Integrated Care Records Service to take forward the life-long heath record service. The key feature of the programme is the shift to a more corporate, national approach to deliver information technology in the NHS. This represents a step-change from the current arrangements whereby systems are typically provided for individual organisations in each health care sector. For electronic records this change means that there will be a national approach to procurement resulting in services conforming to national standards, which will include record structure and some content standards. The resulting services will be able to inter-operate with emerging national services such as the electronic staff record and the health record infrastructure. The aim being to ensure that all electronic record systems are fully compliant with national standards and specifications by December 2007.

Patient Records

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests were made to access health records for deceased persons in each year since the Access to Health Records Act 1990 came into force.

David Lammy: The information requested is not held centrally.

Booked Admissions Programme

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected lifetime cost is of implementing the booked admissions programme.

John Hutton: The national booking programme began as 24 pilots in 1998 and since September 2001 is being implemented in every health community in England in order to move booking to a mainstream way of providing National Health Service services. By December 2005 all inpatients and outpatients will benefit from the choice of a convenient date, time, place and provider for their hospital appointments and admissions.
	Booked appointments are one element of the reforms set out in the NHS Plan to provide health services designed around the patient. The lifetime costs of the booking programme are not separately identifiable from the overall costs of improving patient services. The table below shows funding made available to the national booking programme since 1998.
	
		
			 National Booking Programme Funding since 1998 (# million) 
			 199899 199900 200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 10 20 40 50 60

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the NHS IT programme, Delivering 21 Century IT Support, to reach the OGC gate three investment decision.

Hazel Blears: The Gateway Review 3: Investment Decision is designed to ensure that the recommended investment decision is appropriate before a contract is placed. It provides assurance on the processes used to select a supplier, whether the process has been well managed and whether the business needs are being met. It also provides assurance that the proposed solution can be implemented and managed to achieve a successful outcome.
	The national Information Technology programme as a coherent whole, and each major component thereof, will be subject to a Gateway Review 3 at the appropriate time. Some major elements e.g. electronic appointment booking may reach Gateway Review 3 earlier than others but this stage should be completed for all components by Spring 2003.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS IT programme has passed its Gate Zero Gateway Review by the Office of Government Commerce.

Hazel Blears: The national programme for Information Technology in the National Health Service, Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS successfully completed the Gateway Review 0: Strategic Assessment in July 2002. The gateway review process is not an audit and the key stages of the review process are not in the strict sense, pass or fail.
	The Office of Government Commerce team review and make constructive recommendations to the senior responsible officer, in this case Sir John Pattison. We are acting on their recommendations to ensure the programme management, monitoring and resourcing is appropriate and are now working towards Gateway Review 1.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what formal assessment he has made of the relationship between size and risk in the successful procurement and delivery of NHS IT projects; and if he will publish such assessments and its supporting evidence.

Hazel Blears: The initial work on developing a national strategic programme and implementation plan for Information Technology in the National Health Service did consider an outline risk analysis. A major component of the risk management strategy will be through the rigorous application of the Office of Government Commerce gateway review. The programme team will also have risk management as one of its core functions.
	The Department is also guided by advice from the Office of Government Commerce in developing formal business cases for key components of the national programme when necessary as part of the procurement process. This would include individualised risk assessments. At the appropriate time the risk analysis and management assessments will be made available.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the e-Envoy's office will be involved in managing implementation of the NHS IT programme, Delivering 21 Century IT Support;
	(2)  whether the e-Envoy's office will be involved in managing implementation of the NHS IT programme identified by the OGC as necessary following its Gate Zero Gateway Review.

Hazel Blears: The office of the e-Envoy has been consulted on the initial development of the national programme for Information Technology in the National Health Service and the implementation plan. Andrew Pinder, the e-Envoy, will be a key part of the ministerial taskforce on IT. The taskforce is to be chaired by my noble Friend, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, The Minister for IT in the NHS and will monitor the feasibility and progress of the programme and evaluate the way it is being managed.
	There was no recommendation on the specific future role of the e-Envoy's office from the gateway review process. The office of the e-Envoy will continue to provide technical advice and help co-ordinate the programme with wider eGovernment initiatives as we proceed through the Office of Government Commerce gateway review.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department had with potential preferred service providers before the Government announcement on NHS IT policy; and if he will list the potential preferred service providers with which such discussions were held.

Hazel Blears: The Department routinely receives many approaches from suppliers of healthcare information technology (IT), services and information communication technology. The policy for some time has been to promote partnership working across the IT supplier community and this has involved two way dialogue on the aims and objectives of the Department and ideas based on the experience of a whole range of small and major IT suppliers.
	One of the supporting workstreams in the new national programme for IT in the National Health Service is entitled ''Developing IT Industry capacity for the NHS''. A number of meetings with NHS IT suppliers have been held to introduce the proposed procurement strategy. There was also a one day forum on 22 July that was attended by approximately 200 NHS IT suppliers.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expected cost of implementing the NHS IT programme, Delivering 21 Century IT support is, for each year between 2003 to 2009, in terms of (a) current baseline spending and (b) additional investment.

Hazel Blears: Delivering the NHS Plan in April 2002 promised a greater share of new investment for information and communication technology. The increased levels of funding from April 2003 to March 2006 are part of the Spending Review 2002 and no details have been made available yet.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the consequences for existing NHS IT suppliers of the preferred service provider model for NHS IT procurement; and if he will publish it;
	(2)  what advice he has received on the preferred services provider model for NHS IT procurement; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We published the summary of the overall procurement strategy for the national programme on 26 July 2002. Its purpose was to provide information on the preferred model, approach and contracting arrangements and enable consultation with a wide audience across the NHS and National Health Service IT supplier community. Almost 90 responses were received and the feedback and comments are being reviewed. A synopsis of the main feedback will be published in early October and work continues on developing the full procurement strategy. The full version of the procurement strategy will be available by December 2002.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to NHS trusts and PCTs relating to potential planning blight in the purchasing and installation of IT systems following the Government announcement on NHS IT policy on 12 June.

Hazel Blears: Key messages have been given that the National Health Service should be working to achieve the following:
	Connecting all NHS staff to the NHS network for email communications and web browsing
	Enabling the electronic transfer of pathology requests and results between GPs and NHS laboratories
	Improving the information and IT support to the clinical priorities covered by the national service frameworks.
	All NHS trusts are also expected by December 2005 to have implemented the first generation of electronic records that will provide a common set of applications and functionally across the NHS. Wherever current procurements are in hand our clear message has been to proceed. The Interoperability of systems will be critical to delivering national services and specifications and standards for NHS IT systems. They are still in development, indeed will continue to develop over time but we have made it clear that compatibility with key standards that are known is an essential requirement for current procurements.

NHS Information Technology

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department has agreed with the Office of Government Commerce an action plan to implement corrective actions to the NHS IT programme identified by the OGC as necessary following its Gate Zero Gateway Review;
	(2)  what action plan his Department has to implement corrective actions identified by the Office of Government Commerce as necessary following its Gate Zero Gateway Review; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library;
	(3)  how many corrective actions to the NHS IT programme were identified by the Office of Government Commerce as necessary following its Gate Zero Gateway Review; and if he will list them.

Hazel Blears: New and large-scale procurement projects in central Government are subject to gateway reviews. The process examines a project at critical stages to provide assurance that it can progress successfully to the next stage. The review provides project teams with advice and guidance from fellow practitioners and in order to maintain the integrity of the advice, this is held to be completely confidential by both parties. The gateway review process is not an audit.
	No action plan with the Office of Government Commerce is routinely produced as a part of the gateway review process and none has been agreed in this case. However they do make recommendations to the senior responsible officer, in this case Sir John Pattison, on good practice in key areas such as programme management and involving key stakeholders. The national programme is taking their key recommendations on board as appropriate to help prepare for implementation and the next stage in the gateway review.

Value for Money

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the data underlying his Department's value for money scores in relation to the 1998 public service agreements; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The published measure for the 1998 public service agreement's targets on the efficiency and value for money of Departmental operations was that business plan objectives would be achieved within the running costs limits set by the Comprehensive Spending Review. Running cost plans and outturn against them where available have been published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) for the years 19992000 to 200203, copies of which are available in the Library. The statistics demonstrate that the Department is on track to meet the targets.

Northwich Park Hospital

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action he is taking to improve the quality of, and reduce waiting times in, accident and emergency services at Northwich Park Hospital.

John Hutton: Improving patients' experience of emergency care is essential. In light of this, reforming emergency care was launched in October 2001 supported by #118 million investment. It sets a long-term programme of reform supported by extra investment and new capacity to address one of the public's key concerns about the National Health Servicewaiting in Accident  Emergency.
	Concerted action is being taken to further improve the quality of and waiting times in Northwick Park AE. The AE department is now receiving targeted support through the Modernisation Agency's intensive support team (IST).
	Action already taken to improve the way emergency admissions are managed, including an increase in capacity of 21 beds has already drastically reduced very long waits for beds over the last six months. In addition NUCare, which is an innovative joint scheme run by the trust and local primary care trust, is speeding up care for patients with less serious illness or injuries by bringing GPs and community services into AE.
	Over seven out of ten patients now spend less than four hours in total in the AE. There is still a long way to go and no room for complacency but the combination of local action by the trust and its health community with the support of the IST is laying the ground work for real improvements to the patient experience.

Medical Research

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) funding and (b) progress with medical research into fluoridation and (i) cancer rates and (ii) hip fractures.

Hazel Blears: The report, published on 4 September, of an expert working group set up by the Medical Research Council (MRC) at the request of the Department concluded that there was no firm evidence linking water fluoridation to cancer or to hip fractures. But the group recommended that a comparison be made between the amount of fluoride that the body absorbs from water supplies in which it occurs naturally and those to which it has been added artificially.
	We are, therefore, taking immediate steps to commission a project on the absorption of fluoride. The Department is finalising the specification for a research project to compare the body's absorption of naturally occurring and artificially added fluoride, and will shortly be inviting tenders. The MRC group concluded that if new studies show that the uptake of fluoride from artificially fluoridated water is substantially higher than from naturally fluoridated water, then further investigation of the long term effects of fluoridation on hip fractures will be needed.
	The group also recommended that an updated analysis be made of the data on fluoridation and cancer rates, and suggested that any new studies on the causes of bone cancer could easily include an assessment of exposure to fluoride. The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer will be advising on the action we should take on this and the remaining recommendations in the MRC group's report.

GM Foods

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) UK and (b) EU legislation is in force regarding GM foods.

Hazel Blears: The following United Kingdom legislation regarding genetically modified foods is in force:
	The Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulations 1997, as amended.
	The Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients (Fees) Regulations 1997, as amended.
	The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994, as amended.
	The Genetically Modified and Novel Foods (Labelling) (England) Regulations 2000.
	The Genetically Modified and Novel Foods (Labelling) (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
	The Genetically Modified and Novel Foods (Labelling) (Wales) Regulations 2000.
	The Genetically Modified and Novel Foods (Labelling) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
	The following European Union legislation regarding genetically modified foods is in force:
	Regulation (EC) 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel foods ingredients.
	Regulation (EC) 1139/98 concerning the compulsory indication of the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC.
	Regulation (EC) 49/2000 amending Council Regulation (EC) 1139/98.
	Regulation (EC) 50/2000 on the labelling of foodstuffs and food ingredients containing additives and flavourings that have been genetically modified or have been produced from genetically modified organisms.

Drug-resistant Bacterium

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to reduce the proliferation of drug-resistant bacterium.

David Lammy: We are committed to tackling the serious problem of antimicrobial resistance. In 2000, we published the UK Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan which identified three key areas for tackling antimicrobial resistance; surveillance of antimicrobial resistant organisms and use of antimicrobials, promoting prudent antimicrobial use and infection control to contain and prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistant organisms.
	More recently, the Chief Medical Officer's infectious disease strategy, published in January 2002, has identified antimicrobial resistance as a priority area for intensified action and a targeted action plan is being developed to build on the existing UK strategy. The new targeted action plan will take into account the views from a range of stakeholders including priorities identified by the recently constituted specialist advisory committee on antimicrobial resistance.

Asthma

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide financial assistance to people who cannot afford asthma medication.

David Lammy: People with asthma are entitled to free National Health Service prescriptions if they are under 16 (or under 19 if in full-time education); aged 60 or over; hold a maternity or medical exemption certificate; receive income support or income based jobseekers allowance, are named on a tax credit NHS exemption certificate; or hold an NHS low income scheme exemption certificate for full help.
	Patients who need frequent prescriptions may benefit from purchasing a prescription prepayment certificate.

Asthma

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed with asthma in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally. However tables showing the number of hospital episodes by age where the primary diagnosis is asthma have been placed in the Library. The International Classification of Disease 10 codes J45J46 have been used. The data is for 199697 to 200001.

Asthma

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has gone into research into the causes of asthma; and how much has been allocated to financing drug treatment in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The main Government agency for research into the cause and treatments of disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. Asthma is a priority area for the MRC. It supports a wide range of research projects looking at asthma ranging from basic research to applied clinical studies. The MRC spend in the area in 200001 was approximately #3 million.
	The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the National Health Service. The Department of Health also provides NHS support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that takes place in the NHS. The Department spend on directly commissioned research projects on asthma since 1997 is an estimated #7.24 million.
	Health authorities (HAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) receive funding to spend each financial year but the Department does not specify how much of that should be spent on the drugs bill, nor how much should be spent on individual drugs such as for asthma. However, guidance is set and sent out to all HAs and PCTs advising what monies should be set aside for prescribing budgets, what level of growth should be assumed, and what factors should influence their budget setting process.

Asthma

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assistance the Government have given to the National Asthma Campaign in raising awareness of the effects of asthma.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has recently provided the National Asthma Campaign (NAC) with a section 64 grant to assist the funding of a telephone help-line. This enabled the NAC to both help asthma sufferers and their families as well as raising awareness of the condition.
	The Department is currently arranging a series of discussions between the NAC, the British Thoracic Society and the British Lung Foundation with various sections of the Department and the Modernisation Agency to help shape initiatives in progress within the Department.

Bereavement Counselling

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bereavement counselling is available to parents who have lost a child.

Jacqui Smith: A range of services for people suffering bereavement reactions is available within the National Health Service. The Department has also sought to strengthen more specialised services, in partnership with voluntary organisations like the Child Bereavement Trust, which receives funding through the Department's Section 64 grant aid scheme.

Brain Injury

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) information, (b) support and (c) services are available to (i) people with brain injury, (ii) their families and (iii) carers.

Jacqui Smith: Patients with brain injury, their families and carers are able to access the full range of National Health Service services for head injured people. The information, support and services an individual receives will depend on the extent and severity of the brain injury they have incurred.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidelines for patients and clinicians on early management of head injury. The guidelines are scheduled for publication around March 2003. These guidelines, together with the forthcoming national service framework for long term conditions, will help ensure that health and social care services work together to provide the right level of treatment and care for people with brain injury.

Brain Injury

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions the Department has had with charities and the voluntary sector to provide and improve the quality of support, activities and facilities for people with brain injury.

Jacqui Smith: I am meeting hon. Members and the Chief Executive of Headway on October 22. Officials have had discussions with both Headway and United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum recently and will meet the Chief Executive of Rehab UK on 16 October to discuss the key issues which they consider should be addressed in the long term conditions national service framework which will have a particular focus on treatment and care for people with brain injury. Those discussions will cover the quality of support, activities and facilities for people with brain injury.
	Headway and Rehab UK are currently receiving Section 64 funding for projects that will help patients with brain injury.

Children's Deaths

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he issues to ensure that (a) parents are given a full explanation and (b) care and consideration is taken when death of a child occurs during surgery.

Jacqui Smith: Parents should be supported after the death of their child and given information that will help them understand why the death occurred. Health Service Guidelines HSG(92)8, issued on 23 January 1992, deals with patients who die in hospital, whether child or adult.
	The guidance requires hospitals to ensure that all staff who deal with the dying or the deceased and their relatives are made aware of the document. It also requires those commissioning healthcare services to ensure that hospitals have appropriate procedures in place to ensure that account is taken of the guidance.
	The children's national service framework will look further at the special considerations surrounding the death of a child and include examples of good practice.

Oxtail

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of meat hygiene regulations on the availability in British shops of oxtail from beasts reared in the UK.

Hazel Blears: I am not aware that the availability of oxtail has been affected by any recent change to meat hygiene regulations.

Devon and Cornwall Health Authorities

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what amount each of the health authorities in Devon and Cornwall was overspent at the point at which they ceased to be operational.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The previous health authorities in Devon and Cornwall ceased to exist on the 31 March 2002. In their statutory annual accounts for their last year of operation covering the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 they reported the following:
	
		
			 Health Authority   
		
		
			 North and East Devon #144,000 Underspend 
			 South and West Devon #168,000 Underspend 
			 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly  Breakeven 
		
	
	The accounts of these organisations have now been audited by their external auditor and signed off as representing a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the health authorities as at the 31 March 2002.
	However, in respect of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a disclosure note was incorporated into the annual accounts, which identified that the Cornwall Health Community had an underlying deficit and that the health authority achieved financial balance through the receipt of non-recurrent brokerage of #6.3 million.

Wynthenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason Wynthenshawe Hospital failed to reschedule heart surgery on Mr. Stanley Ford of Warrington within 28 days of the first cancellation of his operation;
	(2)  for what reason Wythenshawe Hospital cancelled heart surgery on Mr. Stanley Ford of Warrington six times; and, in each case, what the reasons were for the cancellations;
	(3)  what the average time taken in 2001 by the Chief Executive of Wythenshawe Hospital was to reply to letters from hon. Members outside Manchester.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 July 2002
	The reasons for the six cancellations were as follows: on 22 March, there was unforeseen sickness amongst theatre staff and priority was given to an emergency admission; on 13 May, non-availability of a clinician who was needed to perform a specialist procedure; on 29 May, no intensive care bed available; on 31 May, 12 and 14 June, all elective surgery was cancelled owing to an methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.
	Surgery could not be rescheduled within 28 days for clinical reasons of which the patient and his family are aware.
	The trust received 23 letters in 2001 from hon. Members whose constituencies are outside Manchester. The average response time was ten working days.

Wynthenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will discuss with the Chief Executive of Wythenshawe Hospital the hospital's methods of handling complaints made by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will investigate for what reason the Chief Executive of Wythenshawe Hospital has not replied to correspondence from the hon. Member for Warrington, North about the case of Mr. Stanley Ford; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answers 19 July 2002
	We have taken this matter up with the Chief Executive and I understand a letter has now been sent.

Long-term Sickness

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve services to get those who have chronic diseases but are of working age back to work.

Jacqui Smith: Helping people back to work after an accident or illness is a priority for the Government. The Department works closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and organisations representing disabled people to review and develop policy in this area.
	We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive on job retention and rehabilitation pilots to test different health and employment strategies to help people with long term sickness or disability to remain in their jobs. They will start in April 2003 and run for two years. Job retention advisers will act early to assist those who have been forced to give up work through prolonged illness or disability to retain their skills and links with employers.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families there are in bed and breakfast accommodation in the last three years for which figures are avilable, broken down by local authority.

Tony McNulty: Showing Available information reported by local authorities in England on the total number of householdsincluding couples and single persons without childrenaccommodated in bed and breakfast units under statutory homelessness provisions at the end of March in each year since 1999 is avaiblable in the Library.
	National and regional figures are presented in a quarterly Statistical Release, and an accompanying Supplementary Table also summarises reported information at local authority level. Both of these are also available in the House library and via the ODPM website.
	Earlier this year the Government announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in BB other than in an emergency, and even then for no more than 6 weeks. This was accompanied by changes in Housing Benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost effective, and an additional #35 million to help local authorities find alternatives to BB.

Local Government Finance

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what provision he will make to fire authorities spending above their SSAs when he revises the SSA formula for fire; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests locally with the fire authority.
	We invited comments on options for changes to the formulae for the distribution of revenue support grant for local authority services, including fire, in a consultation period which ran from 8 July to 30 September. Our proposals will be announced in the provisional local government finance settlement later this year.
	The total provision for revenue funding for fire and other local authority services is considered in the spending reviews. Under Spending Review 2002, announced in July, the fire service share of Total Standard Spending in England will be increased by #61.6 million (4 per cent.) for 200304 and by increases of #70 million (4.4 per cent.) and #50 million (2.9 per cent.) in the following two years.

Fire Service

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are in place to ensure that the Fire Service has adequate resources and equipment.

Christopher Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests locally with the fire authority. However, a fire authority may not reduce its establishment without the approval of the Secretary of State under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. Consent is only given when he is satisfied that the national standards of fire cover will be maintained. Fire authorities are inspected regularly by HM Fire Services Inspectorate as to the manner in which they are performing their functions.
	Under Spending Review 2002 the fire service share of Total Standard Spending in England will be increased by #61.6 million (4 per cent.) for 200304 and by increases of #70 million (4.4 per cent.) and #50 million (2. per cent.) in the following two years.
	There have also been substantial increases in fire service capital provision for England and Wales, with an increase of 67 per cent. in 200102. A further increase of 3.4 per cent. is planned for 200304 and this level of credits will be maintained for 200405 and 200506. An additional #200 million in PFI credit approvals has already been earmarked for the fire service, and a further #50 million in PFI credits will be made available to the service in both 200405 and 200506.
	#43 million will be provided under the Capital Modernisation Fund for mass decontamination equipment, supported by an additional #13 million in revenue funding. We have said that we shall fully fund the new fire service radio replacement strategy. Amongst other funding initiatives, we are providing #15 million additional funding over three years from 20034 for community fire safety and arson reduction initiatives, targeting socially deprived areas.
	Under the Central Local Partnership, we will continue to work closely with fire service stakeholders in England and Wales in the Fire Service Expenditure Forecasting Group to assess future funding pressures.

Fire Service

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he plans to bring the firefighters working in the Retained and Volunteer Duty System up to the same standard of training and pay as their whole time counterparts;
	(2)  What the pay levels are of members of the Emergency Fire Control Staff; and what proposals he has to bring wages in line with firefighters of equivalent rank.

Nick Raynsford: As announced on 5 September, an independent review of the Fire Service is being conducted by Professor Sir George Bain. The review will look at the future organisation and management of the fire service in the United Kingdom, including retained and voluntary firefighters. In that context it will look at pay and conditions of service. It would not be appropriate, therefore, for me to pre-empt the outcome of the review.

Fire Service

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent discussions with the Fire Brigades Union; and what conclusions have been reached.

Christopher Leslie: Following discussions with the Fire Brigades Union and other interested parties, on the 5 September my right hon. Friend the member for Greenwich  Woolwich announced an independent review of the Fire Service. The review will be conducted by Professor Sir George Bain, who has an outstanding record in industrial relations and academia, including key roles at the London Business School, ACAS and the Low Pay Commission. He will be assisted by Sir Anthony Young, a past President of the TUC, and Sir Michael Lyons, who until recently was the Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average length of time was between an application for rehousing under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme and nomination to a property in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: 276 days.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the annual rate of reletting of council housing stock in each year since 1972.

Tony McNulty: Centrally available information collected from local authorities annually since 197980 is presented below.
	
		Local Authority Stock Lettings to New and Existing Tenants: England
		
			  Total Lettings as a % of stock 
		
		
			 197980 411,800 8.6 
			 198081 444,000 9.2 
			 198182 414,700 8.6 
			 198283 438,800 9.0 
			 198384 429,100 9.1 
			 198485 429,300 9.3 
			 198586 437,000 9.6 
			 198687 430,200 9.6 
			 198788 425,800 9.6 
			 198889 410,200 9.5 
			 198990 390,300 9.3 
			 199091 400,900 9.9 
			 199192 406,500 10.4 
			 199293 399,900 10.4 
			 199394 404,900 10.8 
			 199495 407,900 11.1 
			 199596 415,200 11.6 
			 199697 422,000 12.2 
			 199798 403,900 11.9 
			 199899 378,900 11.4 
			 19992000 354,000 11.1 
			 200001 326,600 10.8 
		
	
	Note:
	Lettings include mutual exchanges and transfers of existing tenants, and lettings made to new tenants on either secure or non-secure tenancies.
	Source:
	DOE/DTLR/ODPM Housing Investment Programme returns (annual)

Housing

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with local authorities about the Housing Mutual model to encourage housing transfer.

Tony McNulty: Ministers have had no discussions with English local authorities about the Housing Mutual model to encourage housing transfer.

Housing

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the rate of change was in house prices in the past five years, broken down by region.

Tony McNulty: The rate of change in house prices in the past five years, by region, is estimated to have been as follows.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 North East +3.7% 
			 North West +54.8% 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber +49.6% 
			 East Midlands +72.4% 
			 West Midlands +65.4% 
			 East +92.6% 
			 London +110.0% 
			 South East +94.6% 
			 South West +97.0% 
			 England +82.7% 
			 Wales +56.1% 
			 Scotland +27.5% 
			 Northern Ireland +66.1% 
			 United Kingdom +77.1% 
		
	
	Sources:
	ODPM Survey of Mortgage Lenders
	Increase in the regional house price indices between Q2 1997 and Q2 2002.

Housing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent action has been taken to address the Housing shortages in (a) Glasgow and (b) the UK.

Tony McNulty: Following devolution, housing policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the relevant devolved administrations.
	Regional Planning Guidance requires planning bodies to strategically examine housing need, including the need for affordable housing, across their areas. We also expect local authorities to plan to meet their housing needs.
	However, we recognise the need for more affordable homes in England, and have substantially increased resources to address this. Funding for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) for next year will be #1.2 billion, almost double the figure for 20002001. This should deliver 22,700 homes next year.
	My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister will return to the House at the turn of the year with a comprehensive long-term programme of action to tackle supply and demand issues, as promised in his statement of 18 July, Official Report, Hansard, (col. 438).

Housing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent action has been taken to ensure that (a) the right to buy is not abused and (b) people are able to have the option of buying their homes.

Tony McNulty: We are concerned about abuses of the Right to Buy scheme and we have commissioned research into their scope and extent. The results will be available by the end of this year. We are considering what can be done about such abuses, but we have no plans to end the Right to Buy scheme.
	Under its devolved powers, the Scottish Parliament has passed legislation introducing a Modernised Right to Buy for new tenants in Scotland, to take effect from 30 September 2002.

Housing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent measures have been taken to improve the quality and conditions of social housing in (a) Glasgow and (b) the UK.

Tony McNulty: Responsibility for housing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the relevant devolved administrations.
	For England we have set a Public Service Agreement target to bring all social housing up to a decent standard by 2010.
	To help ensure delivery against this target we have set up a Delivery Unit to work with Government Offices and the Housing Corporation to ensure local authorities and housing associations quantify the level of non-decent housing in their stock and put in place a strategy for dealing with the problem, backed up by a very significant increase in resources since 1997.
	The emphasis on delivery is paying dividends and we are on track to meet our interim target of bringing a third of the worst social housing up to a decent standard by 2004.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applicants are on the waiting list for a nomination to a property under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme.

Tony McNulty: On 30 September 2002 there were 564 applicants on the waiting list for a nomination to a property under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has undertaken into the impact of relets of council housing of the introduction of the Right-to-Buy scheme.

Tony McNulty: We have commissioned research into the scope and extent of abuses of the Right to Buy scheme. The results will be available by the end of this year.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme on easing pressure on social housing in London;
	(2)  how many and what size of properties were released by nominees from London boroughs to the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme in each year since 1979, broken down by region.

Tony McNulty: The number of London Lettings released by the operation of the scheme in recent years are listed in the table below. This represents a useful contribution to easing pressure on social housing in London.
	The number of households rehoused under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme by property size are as follows. Figures prior to 199697 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. For 199900 (when the management of the Scheme was moved from North British Housing Association to HOMES) figures are not available by property size.
	
		
			 Local Authority 199697 199798 199899 199900 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2 2 bed 3 2 bed 4 2 bed 4 1 bedsit 1 1 bed 
			  3 3 bed  1 3 bed  1 1 bed 1 3 bed 
			  1 3 bed  
			 Barnet 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 0 2 bedsit 2 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed  1 2 bed  1 1 bed  
			  1 3 bed2 2 bed  
			  1 4 bed  
			 Bexley 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 0   
			 Brent 1 3 bed 1 1 bed  0 1 3 bed 1 2 bed 
			 Bromley 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 2 1 bed 0 1 1 bed 3 1 bed 
			   1 3 bed 1 2 bed  1 2 bed  
			   1 5+ bed 
			 Camden 2 bedsit 1 1 bed 6 1 bed 7 3 bedsit 1 1 bed 
			  4 1 bed 3 2 bed 3 2 bed  6 1 bed 2 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed 1 3 bed 3 3 bed  2 2 bed 1 3 bed 
			  1 4 bed 1 4 bed 
			 City of London 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 bedsit 1  1 bedsit 
			   1 2 bed 1 2 bed   1 1 bed 
			1 3 bed   1 2 bed 
			   1 3 bed 
			 Croydon 1 1 bed 1 bedsit 4 1 bed 7 6 1 bed 3 1 bed 
			   2 1 bed 3 3 bed  3 2 bed 3 2 bed 
			   2 3 bed   1 3 bed 2 3 bed 
			   1 4 bed 
			 Ealing 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 4 1 2 bed 1 1 bed 
			  1 3 bed 1 2 bed   2 3 bed 1 4 bed 
			 Enfield 5 1 bed 1 bedsit 1 1 bed 5 1 2 bed 1 1 bed 
			  2 2 bed 1 1 bed 1 2 bed  1 3 bed 3 2 bed 
			  2 3 bed 4 2 bed 2 3 bed   1 3 bed 
			   1 3 bed 
			 Greenwich 1 3 bed 5 1 bed 9 2 bed 6 5 1 bed 3 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed 9 2 bed 2 3 bed  4 2 bed 3 2 bed 
			   2 3 bed   3 3 bed 3 3 bed 
			   3 4 bed
			 Hackney 1 bedsit 8 1 bed 3 bedsit 13 1 bedsit 1 1 bed 
			  6 2 bed 5 2 bed 3 1 bed  2 1 bed 2 2 bed 
			  6 3 bed 10 3 bed 9 2 bed  1 2 bed 2 3 bed 
			   1 5+ bed   6 3 bed  
			  1 4 bed  
			 Hammersmith  Fulham 2 1 bed 3 1 bed 4 2 bed 1 2 2 bed 1 bedsit 
			  3 2 bed 1 2 bed   1 3 bed 1 2 bed 
			  1 3 bed 1 3 bed   1 4 bed  
			   1 4 bed 
			 Haringey 1 1 bed 2 1 bed 7 2 bed 13 2 bedsit 2 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed 3 2 bed   1 2 bed 4 3 bed 
			  1 3 bed 5 3 bed   2 3 bed  
			  1 4 bed  
			 Harrow 1 2 bed 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 0  1 1 bed 
			  1 3 bed  
			 Havering 4 1 bed 3 1 bed 1 1 bed 4 3 1 bed  
			  3 2 bed 1 2 bed 4 2 bed  3 3 bed  
			  2 3 bed  
			 Hillingdon 1 3 bed 1 2 bed  0 1 1 bed 1 3 bed 
			   1 3 bed   1 2 bed  
			  2 3 bed  
			 Hounslow 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 bedsit 6 1 2 bed 4 1 bed 
			  2 2 bed 1 2 bed 1 1 bed  4 3 bed 3 2 bed 
			1 2 bed   1 3 bed 
			2 3 bed
			 Islington 4 1 bed 1 bedsit 2 1 bed 12 5 1 bed 3 1 bed 
			  5 2 bed 2 1 bed 4 2 bed  3 2 bed 4 2 bed 
			  1 3 bed 5 2 bed 1 3 bed  1 3 bed 5 3 bed 
			   4 3 bed 1 4 bed  2 4 bed 2 4 bed 
			   1 4 bed 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 bedsit 2 1 bedsit 1 bedsit 
			   2 2 bed 1 1 bed  1 3 bed  
			1 2 bed
			 Kingston upon Thames 1 1 bed 1 bedsit  1 1 3 bed 1 2 bed 
			   1 1 bed 
			 Lambeth 3 1 bed 1 1 bed 4 bedsit 11 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 
			  9 2 bed 5 2 bed 2 1 bed  4 2 bed 1 2 bed 
			  3 3 bed 6 3 bed 1 2 bed  3 3 bed 3 3 bed 
			  1 4 bed 2 4 bed 4 3 bed  1 4 bed 3 4 bed 
			 Lewisham 2 1 bed 3 1 bed 2 1 bed 6 2 1 bed 2 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed 9 2 bed 4 2 bed  1 2 bed 6 2 bed 
			  2 3 bed 6 3 bed 3 3 bed  5 3 bed 3 3 bed 
			   1 4 bed 1 4 bed
			 Merton 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 2 bed 2 2 2 bed 1 1 bed 
			   1 2 bed 2 3 bed  1 3 bed 1 3 bed 
			   1 3 bed 
			 Newham 1 bedsit 2 1 bed 2 1 bed 13 16 1 bed 2 1 bed 
			  6 1 bed 10 2 bed 10 2 bed  7 2 bed 10 2 bed 
			  12 2 bed 3 3 bed 5 3 bed  7 3 bed 10 3 bed 
			  4 3 bed 2 4 bed   3 4 bed 1 4 bed 
			  4 4 bed  
			 Redbridge 2 1 bed 2 2 bed 1 1 bed 0  2 1 bed 
			  1 2 bed  1 2 bed
			 Richmond upon Thames 1 2 bed 1 bedsit  0 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 
			  1 3 bed  
			 Southwark 4 1 bed 1 bedsit 7 1 bed 14 4 1 bed 2 1 bed 
			  11 2 bed 6 1 bed 7 2 bed  5 2 bed 8 2 bed 
			  10 3 bed 8 2 bed 8 3 bed  12 3 bed 6 3 bed 
			  3 4 bed 5 3 bed 1 4 bed  1 4 bed  
			   1 5+ bed 
			 Sutton 1 3 bed 1 2 bed 1 1 bed 3 1 2 bed 1 1 bed 
			   1 5+ bed 1 2 bed  1 3 bed 1 3 bed 
			2 3 bed
			 Tower Hamlets 2 1 bed 1 bedsit 1 bedsit 10 10 1 bed 4 1 bed 
			  4 2 bed 6 1 bed 1 1 bed  4 2 bed 2 2 bed 
			  4 3 bed 7 2 bed 3 2 bed  2 3 bed 3 3 bed 
			   3 3 bed 1 3 bed  1 4 bed 1 4 bed 
			1 4 bed
			 Waltham Forest 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 1 1 bed 8 2 1 bed 1 1 bed 
			  5 2 bed 1 2 bed 3 2 bed  2 2 bed 1 2 bed 
			  1 3 bed 1 3 bed 1 3 bed  1 3 bed  
			 Wandsworth 1 1 bed 2 1 bed 4 1 bed 3 2 2 bed 2 1 bed 
			  3 2 bed 2 2 bed 4 2 bed  2 3 bed 2 2 bed 
			  1 3 bed  2 3 bed   2 3 bed 
			 Westminster 1 bedsit 1 bedsit 1 4 bed 2 1 1 bed 1 bedsit 
			  3 1 bed 3 1 bed1 1 bed 
			  1 4 bed  
			 Total 5 bedsit 8 bedsit 11 bedsit  10 bedsit 4 bedsit 
			  58 1 bed 63 1 bed 46 1 bed  69 1 bed 47 1 bed 
			  85 2 bed 86 2 bed 85 2 bed  51 2 bed 54 2 bed 
			  47 3 bed 53 3 bed 43 3 bed  65 3 bed 51 3 bed 
			  12 4 bed 10 4 bed 5 4 bed  10 4 bed 10 4 bed 
			   4 5+ bed 
			 Moves from RSLs (location and property size not recorded)   9 8 9 25 
			  
			 Total 207 224 199 166 214 191

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals against the valuation of a property being sold under the right-to-buy scheme have been submitted in London in each year since 1980; and how many of those appeals resulted in a reduction in the valuation.

Tony McNulty: Figures for the number of appeals against Right to Buy valuations in London are only available from 1992 onwards, information prior to this date is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. They are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Year Appeals against 
			 valuations by local 
			 authorities 
			  Appeals against 
			 valuations by Registered 
			 Social Landlords 
			 199293 2,311 27 
			 199394 1,300 25 
			 199495 757 18 
			 199596 705 4 
			 199697 715 2 
			 199798 920 6 
			 199899 1,041 4 
			 19992000 1,615 39 
			 200001 2,008 42 
			 200002 1,758 80 
			  
			 Totals 13,130 247 
		
	
	Information on the number of appeals that resulted in a lower valuation is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	A review of the system for valuing properties for Right to Buy purposes is in progress. The results will be made publicly available when the project is completed.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the popularity of the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme among older tenants in London.

Tony McNulty: No recent assessment has been made of the popularity of the Scheme.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to require boroughs in London which have received above expected Approved Development Programme funding from the Housing Corporation to make a proportion of new lettings available to applicants from boroughs with lower than expected ADP funding.

Tony McNulty: The Housing Corporation will be working closely with London boroughs to agree a framework across London for the pooling of nominations for new lettings on a sub-regional basis, similar to those in existence under the London Housing Partnership programme, to widen choice and promote cohesive communities.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact that the Rent Rebate Subsidy Limitation regulations have on a local authority's capacity to finance the revenue costs of concierge security schemes.

Tony McNulty: Each local authority has a responsibility to balance its Housing Revenue Account, and to decide what services it can provide taking account of its income e.g. from rents and HRA subsidy.

Housing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to establish separate funding provision for (a) new social and affordable housing, (b) repair and regeneration of social sector stock, and (c) funding of housing market renewal; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The 2002 spending review settlement has provided an extra #1.4 billion for housing over three years. This will help to provide well-designed, affordable homes where they are needed, improve stock conditions in both the social and the private sectors, and tackle low demand through significant funding for the pathfinder projects.
	Current arrangements channel most funding for new affordable housing through the Housing Corporation, and for repair of social stock through local authorities.
	My right hon. Friend The Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 July, Official Report, Hansard, (col. 438) that he plans to bring housing investment into a single regional pot, to ensure that housing investment decisions are brought together with planning for housing, and linked with regional economic and transport strategies. He is carefully considering the best way forward and will announce the details in due course.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to expand the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme.

Tony McNulty: There are currently no plans to expand the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with HOMES, North British Housing Association and the London Borough of Bromley (on behalf of the London Boroughs) to review the workings of the scheme in order to improve the efficiency of its operation.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households in London are one or more bedrooms below the bedroom standard, broken down by local authority.

Tony McNulty: The information requested for London, together with comparable data for England, is given in the table below.
	Information for individual local authorities is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	
		Households Below the Bedroom Standard 1 : 200102 2 
		
			  Thousand Per cent. 
		
		
			 London 175 6 
			 England 501 2 
		
	
	Source:
	Survey of English Housing, ODPM
	1 Bedroom standard is an indicator of occupation density. A notional number of bedrooms are allocated to each household in accordance with its age/sex/marital status composition and the relationship of the members to each other. This is then compared with the actual number of bedrooms (including bed-sitters) available for the sole use of the household.
	2 Information for 200102 is provisional.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has commissioned into the Housing Health and Safety Rating System since July 2001; what the terms of reference are for that research; who is undertaking it; and when he expects it to be published.

Tony McNulty: We are currently running three research projects relating to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). The first, which began in January 2001, is to develop the statistics to support the system, and is being carried out by Warwick University with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The second, which began in August 2001, is an evaluation project, by DTZ Pieda, to identify the practical lessons to be learned from the publication of Version 1 of HHSRS in July 2000. The third, which began in September 2001, is to produce the guidance needed to assist local authorities in the application of HHSRS specifically to houses in multiple occupation, and is being carried out by the Building Research Establishment. Reports on these projects are expected to be published by the end of this year. This work will inform the production of Version 2 of HHSRS, which we expect to commission in time for publication next autumn as part of a comprehensive package of guidance.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the size and type of accommodation suitable as an alternative to LA and RSL tenants underoccupying their current accommodation; and what measures he has taken to encourge LAs and RSLs in areas of high demand to ensure that this type of accommodation is included in new developments.

Tony McNulty: No such assessment has been carried out by the Government. However, local authorities in their role as strategic housing authorities are required to assess the type of accommodation required in their areas. Local authorities may also require a proportion of affordable housing as part of new developments, often built by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and funded by the Housing Corporation. RSLs must ensure that bids for capital investment in social housing fit with local authority and regional priorities and the Housing Corporation's National Investment Strategy.
	Over the next ten years, the Government will encourage councils and housing associations to set their rents to within 5 per cent. of the levels given by a national formula that reflects a property's size, location and condition. This will give tenants the choice over paying more for a larger property in a high cost area, or saving money by renting a smaller property.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to replace the current overcrowding standards; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Government has no immediate plans to replace the overcrowding standard. But it is considering the extent to which overcrowding can be tackled through a new health and safety enforcement regime for housing, based on the new health and safety rating system.
	The Government intends to legislate to introduce the new enforcement regime as a replacement for the fitness standard when Parliamentary time allows.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the impact of concierge security schemes on anti-social behaviour in local authority tower blocks.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made a recent assessment of the impact of concierge security schemes on anti-social behaviour in local authority tower blocks.

Millennium Dome

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of the Millennium Dome to public funds has been.

Tony McNulty: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), which was responsible for building the Dome and running of the Millennium Experience, was allocated #628 million of National Lottery funds from the Millennium Commission for the Millennium Experience, which included the associated national programme of events across the UK as well as the Dome at Greenwich. NMEC is currently in solvent liquidation and it is expected that some #25 million of this grant facility will not be required.
	Up to the end of July this year, English Partnerships (EP) had incurred a total cost of #21.4m. This includes, from 1 July 2001when EP took over the ownership of the Dome#3.3m for the management, maintenance and security of the Dome; #6.5m for decommissioning the contents of the Dome and its site in preparation for the future long term use; and #4.9m in connection with the sale process. It also includes #6.7m for the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome. All of these costs incurred by EP in relation to the Dome will be recovered from sale proceeds.

Property Prices (Taunton)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in property prices in Taunton since 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: According to the Department's Survey of Mortgage Lenders, house prices in South West England rose by 31.8 per cent. during the three years 1999 to 2001. According to HM Land Registry figures the average price of residential property sold in Taunton Deane was #85,097 in 1999 and #109,530 in 2001.
	Homeownership is affordable for most people. Homeowners are benefiting from low interest rates, low unemployment and robust income growth. For people purchasing a home in South West England during 2001, total mortgage payments averaged 17.44 per cent. of their income. This compares to 28.42 per cent. of income in 1990, and is lower than 1999 (17.91 per cent.) and 2000 (19.43 per cent.).
	However, we are well aware that there can be serious problems for many first time buyers in areas of high demand. We are committed to improving people's housing choices, and to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home. Our aim is to deliver new affordable housing where it is needed most, in more sustainable forms.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in relation to communications data as defined in RIPA, how many officials from his Department he estimates will be authorised to seek access to communications data; how many times officials have sought access to such data from communications providers including Internet service providers under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: No officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or its Agencies are engaged in law enforcement activities requiring them to be authorised to access communications data as defined in Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Parish Councillors (Model Code of Conduct)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to request parish councils to indicate how many of their parish councillors have been resigned in response to the introduction of the Model Code of Conduct for Parish Councils.

Christopher Leslie: We have no plans to request such information from parish councils.

Personation

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he proposes to introduce to prevent personation for the local elections to be held on 1 May 2003.

Nick Raynsford: We have no evidence to suggest that personation will be a significant problem at local elections in May 2003, and have no plans to introduce any new specific measures to prevent personation.
	In our prospectus, issued in September 2002, inviting councils to propose pilot voting schemes in the May 2003 local elections, we have made clear that such schemes would need to ensure that any new method of voting is at least as secure, if not more secure, than conventional electoral practices. The Electoral Commission will, as required by statute, be consulted before any pilot schemes are approved. The programme of pilots itself will be looking at new ways to incorporate specific measures to test security and fraud.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the (a) national budgetary contribution to, (b) role of and (c) national representation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities; when he last met representatives from that group; and if he has made representations on this body to the Foreign Office in the context of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Christopher Leslie: Member states of the Council of Europe (CoE), including the UK, make no direct budgetary contribution to the Congress of local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), which is a consultative body within the CoE consisting of local and regional elected representatives from each of the 44 member states. CLRAE is funded through the CoE's ordinary budget as provided by member states and as agreed by the CoE's Committee of Ministers.
	CLRAE has a Regional and a Local Chamber, membership of which is on the basis of nomination by member states' governments according to the requirements of the CLRAE founding charter. The UK has 9 full and 9 substitute seats in each Chamber. The UK's nomination procedure provides for a balanced representation of local and regional interests; all UK appointees must hold an electoral mandate in a UK local authority, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, or the GLA.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met the leader of the UK's CLRAE delegation at the recent World Environment Conference in Johannesburg. Within the Central Local Partnership my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe and I regularly meet representatives of local government, including members of the UK CLRAE delegation, to discuss European issues, including the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Homelessness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families were living in bed and breakfast accommodation in (a) East Worthing and Shoreham and (b) West Sussex in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The East Worthing and Shoreham Parliamentary constituency is covered by Adur DC and part of Worthing DC. Information reported by these and other councils in West Sussex on the total number of householdsincluding couples and single persons without childrenaccommodated in bed and breakfast units under statutory homelessness provisions at the end of March in each year since 1997 is summarised below.
	
		Homeless Households in Bed and Breakfast Accommodation as at 31 March*
		
			  Adur DC Worthing DC All DCs in West Sussex 
		
		
			 1997 not reported 39 65 (estimated) 
			 1998 5 47 79 
			 1999 3 37 74 
			 2000 3 37 74 
			 2001 14 22 81 
			 2002 17 18 128 
		
	
	Note:
	* includes households accommodated pending completion of enquiries by the local authority.
	Sources:
	1997: P1(E) housing return (quarterly)
	1998 onwards: Housing Investment Programme returns (annual)
	Earlier this year the Government announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in BB other than in an emergency, and even then for no more than 6 weeks. This was accompanied by changes in Housing Benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost effective, and an additional #35 million to help local authorities find alternatives to BB.

Homelessness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met the Director of the Homelessness Unit.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister regularly meets officials in the course of his official duties.

Homelessness

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the level of homelessness; how he defines a homeless person; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Roche: At the end of June 2002 81,170 households in England were living in temporary accommodation, including over 6,500 families with children in bed and breakfast hotels, and around 600 people were sleeping rough on any one night.
	Under the homelessness legislation (Housing Act 1996), a person is ''statutorily homeless'' if they do not have accommodation which they have a legal right to live in, which is physically available to them and which it would be reasonable for them to continue to occupy.
	In March 2002, the Homelessness Directorate published a report ''More than a Roof'', which outlined the Government's new approach to tackling homelessness funded by #125 million over this year. The Homelessness Act 2002 will also bring about radical change in the way that central and local government, and all other partners, work together to tackle homelessness. For the first time ever, local authorities will be required to carry out a review and develop a strategy for their area that prevents homelessness and provides solutions for people who are, or who may become homeless.

Homelessness

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he is taking to tackle homelessness in rural areas.

Tony McNulty: The Homelessness Directorate's report ''More than a roof'', sets out specific measures to tackle homelessness backed up by a #125 million investment over the next year. The Homelessness Directorate has provided a total of over #3.7 million to local authorities in rural areas over the next year to fund schemes such as mediation services for family and couples in relationship difficulties; additional support for women fleeing domestic violence; rent deposit guarantee schemes to help homeless people find housing in the private sector; court and landlord advice services to reduce evictions; and debt and welfare counselling to help people sustain their tenancies.

Pathfinder Renewal Project

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the resources allocation for the Pathfinder Renewal Project.

Tony McNulty: The 2002 spending review settlement has provided an extra #1.4 billion for housing. This will help to provide well-designed, affordable homes where they are needed, improve stock conditions in both the social and the private rented sectors, and tackle low demand through significant funds for the pathfinder projects. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is giving careful consideration to the best use of this additional funding to deliver sustainable communities. My right hon. Friend has said that he will report back to the House at the turn of the year.

Local Government

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister where responsibility will lie for (a) police, (b) waste disposal and (c) fire services in new unitary authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Regional Governance White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, published in May, sets out the Government's plans to establish unitary local authorities in place of existing county and district councils in those regions where people vote in a referendum for elected regional assemblies. In any region where the Government decides that a referendum should take place, the Boundary Committee for England will carry out a review and recommend the best unitary arrangements for the two-tier parts of that region. A referendum will then be held to see whether people support the creation of an elected assembly. The new unitary arrangements will be implemented ifbut only ifa majority of those voting in the referendum voted for an elected regional assembly.
	Where new unitary arrangements are introduced, we would expect that existing police authorities would remain in place. Appointments to these authorities would be made either by unitary districts or by the unitary county council, depending on the new unitary structure.
	There are currently combined fire authorities in former county areas which have only unitary local authorities; and also in areas where there are one or more unitaries, district councils and a county council. Where changes lead to district-based unitaries in future, we would expect there to be a combined fire authority, but where they lead to a unitary county with no existing or new district-based unitaries, we would expect the county council to remain responsible for providing fire services. This is without prejudice to our consideration of any recommendations on the organisation of the fire service that Professor Sir George Bain's recently announced review might make.
	Waste disposal is currently a responsibility of county councils and would become a responsibility of unitary authorities where these are established in future in regions that have an elected assembly.

Regional Governance

Joyce Quin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation on the White Paper on Regional Governance.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper Your Region, Your Choice formally invited comments on stakeholder involvement with elected regional assemblies; the closing date for responses was 31 August 2002. But the White Paper also offered the opportunity for general views to be submittedthere is no deadline for these views and comments are still being received.
	To date, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received around 1,100 representations on the White Paper, of which around 200 offered comments on stakeholder involvement with elected assemblies
	In addition, we have received around 1,500 postcards in support of the Cornish Constitutional Convention campaign for a referendum on establishing a Cornish Assembly.
	We are currently undertaking detailed assessments of stakeholder responses, and of general responses to the White Paper. These will be published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website later in the year. We will then set out our further proposals on stakeholder involvement, taking into account views expressed in the consultation.
	It remains the case that we intend to introduce a Bill to provide for referendums and associated local government reviews as soon as Parliamentary time allows, with the aim of enabling the first referendums to be held during this Parliament.

Local Authority Referendums

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the average turnout for referendums held by local authorities to establish opinion on local issues.

Nick Raynsford: Information about turnout for those referendums which local authorities hold voluntarily is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The average turnout in binding referendums which councils held between June 2001 and October 2002 on whether or not their area should have a directly elected mayor was 29 per cent., within a range of 10 per cent. to 64 per cent.

Rural Housing

Gary Streeter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to encourage the provision of more affordable housing in rural communities.

Tony McNulty: The Government recognises that there is a shortage of affordable housing in many rural towns and villages. The need can be for both homes to rent and to buy.
	We expect all local authorities to develop housing strategies and to develop local housing need assessments as part of their long-term plans. We believe that judicious use of their planning powers can deliver more affordable housing.
	By next year, we expect to deliver around 9,000 affordable homes annually in rural areas, including 3,000 in small settlements. Of these, a proportion will be for low-cost home ownership.